Laser weapons will soon become an integral part of the navy, from small to large. The first contract for the installation of multi-level laser protection (LLD) on received by Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin contract worth $22,4 million with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) development and integration of a prototype multi-level laser defense (LLD) weapon system aboard a US Navy coastal combat ship (LCS). There is information that the USS Little Rock (LCS-9) ship may be the first to receive laser weapons. The ships of the coastal zone serve both in the territorial waters of the United States and in the most important areas of maritime navigation, for example, in the Persian Gulf.
The program of equipping coastal warships with multi-level laser protection is designed to increase the survivability of the ship and its strike capabilities. For example, protection against attacks by drones becomes relevant, which is expensive and dangerous to shoot down with conventional weapons (especially in one's own waters).
Lockheed Martin specialists must develop modular solutions with an emphasis on protecting laser weapons from the effects of the marine environment. Design work, manufacturing and installation of modules on a ship, as well as preparation of laser modules for testing on a ship at sea, should be completed by July 2021.
Americans are more active than Europeans in equipping ships with laser weapons. Thus, the European Defense Agency (EDA) has so far only to obtain an expert assessment of the prospects for sea-based laser weapons. However, the Germans in this matter decided to be the first in Europe and last summer regular laser weapons for missile corvettes.
Source: 3dnews.ru