Military
USS Preble's HELIOS Laser Destroys Four Drones in At-Sea Test
The Navy's 60-kilowatt directed-energy weapon shoots down four UAVs during operational testing, marking a milestone for shipboard laser defense.
Key Takeaways
- The USS Preble's 60-kilowatt HELIOS laser neutralized four drones in the first confirmed multi-target shipboard laser engagement
- HELIOS offers an effectively unlimited magazine at near-zero marginal cost versus million-dollar interceptor missiles per shot
- The successful test moves directed-energy weapons from experimental curiosity to demonstrated operational capability for the Navy
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