Congress Aims to Boost Navy's Laser Defense with Containerized HELIOS System

The U.S. Congress is pushing for the development of a containerized version of the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system by the Navy, according to an early draft of the annual defense policy bill for 2027. The proposal would allocate $5 million towards this initiative, aiming to accelerate the deployment of laser directed energy weapons across a broader range of naval vessels. This move comes as part of ongoing efforts to enhance close-in defensive capabilities against emerging threats like drones and small boats.

The Navy has already experimented with palletized designs for HELIOS systems in recent years but has faced several hurdles in scaling up these technologies. The containerized design would allow the military to more easily integrate laser weapons onto various ship types, providing a flexible defense solution that could be rapidly deployed as needed. Currently, only one operational HELIOS system is installed on the USS Preble, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

The proposed budget also includes $2.5 million for a "Containerized Maritime High Energy Laser Weapon System," which may or may not be directly related to the Navy's existing Joint Laser Weapon System (JLWS) initiative aimed at developing higher-powered laser weapons. HELIOS itself is a 60-kilowatt-class system that has demonstrated its capability in multiple tests, including successfully targeting and neutralizing drones.

In addition to HELIOS, another laser weapon called Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN), is currently deployed on seven Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Designed as a dazzler rather than a destructive weapon, ODIN can blind or confuse electro-optical systems of incoming threats, offering an alternative defensive measure that does not rely solely on kinetic weapons.

These advancements in laser technology underscore the Navy's commitment to developing innovative defense solutions for modern warfare scenarios. The containerized HELIOS system represents a significant step towards making these technologies more accessible and adaptable across different naval platforms.