The US Navy Is Testing Its New Laser Weapon

The US Navy released a video showing the operation of a new laser weapon on Wednesday. The tests were conducted on board one of the ships of the Navy deployed in the Persian Gulf.

In a press release, the Office of Naval Research (ONR, for its acronym in English) described the laser system as a “weapon of art which brings significant new capabilities to the sailors and marines of the United States.”

In the video posted on YouTube by the US Navy, you can see how the weapon known as “Laser Weapon System (LAWS)” trips precise objectives are close to the ship “USS Ponce” (an amphibious ship of the Austin class) from where the show was held.

The test ran from September to November and was described as “historic” by officials given the ability of the device to operate seamlessly with existing defense systems.

“The laser weapons are powerful, affordable and will play a vital role in the future of naval combat operations,” said Admiral Matthew L. Klunder, chief of naval research.

“We operate this unique weapon, a prototype, through strict steps followed in full and destroy the targets that we designate an almost instantaneous lethality” he said.

According to the Navy, advanced military equipment is operated by a control like a video game device and can be particularly useful in the treatment of “asymmetric threats” such as attacks from small boats.

The US Navy said the laser weapon system is very economical, “in less than a dollar a shot, there is no doubt about the laws of value provided” Klunder said.

“With the affordability of serious concern to our defense budgets, this will be more easily managed our resources to ensure that our sailors and Marines will be in a fair fight.”