Learning the LaWS: US Navy takes its solid state laser weapon prototype to sea

摘要

First details of AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System (LaWS) testing from USS Ponce (AFSB[I] 15) in the Gulf have been released by the Office of Nava Research (ONR), revealing successful demonstrations against surface targets and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Lessons learnt from this Solid-State Laser 'Quick Reaction Capability' (SSL-QRC) deployment will feed into the ONR's SSL Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) programme. Plans were announced by theONR on 11 December 2014 for the design, development and at-sea test of a follow-on high-power SSL Laser Weapon System Demonstrator (LWSD).