Office Of Naval Research - Maritime Laser Demonstration [480p]

MLD Test Moves Navy a Step Closer to Lasers for Ship Self-Defense.

For Immediate Release: April 8, 2011.
By Geoff S. Fein, Office of Naval Research.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Marking a milestone for the Navy, the Office of Naval Research and its industry partner on April 6 successfully tested a solid-state, High-Energy Laser (HEL) from a surface ship, which disabled a small target vessel.

The Navy and Northrop Grumman completed at-sea testing of the Maritime Laser Demonstrator (MLD), which validated the potential to provide advanced self-defense for surface ships and personnel by keeping small boat threats at a safe distance.

"The success of this high-energy laser test is a credit to the collaboration, cooperation and teaming of naval labs at Dahlgren, China Lake, Port Hueneme and Point Mugu, Calif.," said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Nevin Carr. "ONR coordinated each of their unique capabilities into one cohesive effort."

The latest test occurred near San Nicholas Island, off the coast of Central California in the Pacific Ocean test range. The laser was mounted onto the deck of the Navy's self-defense test ship, former USS Paul Foster (DD 964).

Carr also recognized the Office of the Secretary of Defense's High Energy Joint Technology Office and the Army's Joint High Powered Solid State Laser (JHPSSL) program for their work. MLD leverages the Army's JHPSSL effort.

"This is the first time a HEL, at these power levels, has been put on a Navy ship, powered from that ship and used to defeat a target at-range in a maritime environment," said Peter Morrison, program officer for ONR's MLD.

In just slightly more than two-and-a-half years, the MLD has gone from contract award to demonstrating a Navy ship defensive capability, he said.

"We are learning a ton from this program—how to integrate and work with directed energy weapons," Morrison said. "All test results are extremely valuable regardless of the outcome."

Additionally, the Navy accomplished several other benchmarks, including integrating MLD with a ship's radar and navigation system and firing an electric laser weapon from a moving platform at-sea in a humid environment. Other tests of solid state lasers for the Navy have been conducted from land-based positions.

Having access to a HEL weapon will one day provide warfighter with options when encountering a small-boat threat, Morrison said.

But while April's MLD test proves the ability to use a scalable laser to thwart small vessels at range, the technology will not replace traditional weapon systems, Carr added.

"From a science and technology point of view, the marriage of directed energy and kinetic energy weapon systems opens up a new level of deterrence into scalable options for the commander. This test provides an important data point as we move toward putting directed energy on warships. There is still much work to do to make sure it's done safely and efficiently," the admiral said.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Military

[lovelplants]

then what's the conclusion?

[777bluelight]

So they need to test this on pair of brand spankin' new Merc. 200hp outboards?

Seriously?!

They didn't have a 15yr old 9.9hp Johnson or something sitting around the Quonset hut?

The price of those burning motors could have fed my family for a year, or re-hired my kids teachers they fired because of "lack of funds"...

Despicable!

[crazynaska]

Yeah I noticed that after I made the comment. Impressive weapon, but the best weapon of all would be the weapon that can somehow turn anything that it is pointed at off. A missal, jet, power plants, anything now that would be a weapon.

[Warpath2198]

@crazynaska lol you might want to check out some of the tests done by the Air Force. It can blast things in a few seconds.

[crazynaska]

The laser is only efective if the target is not moving too much. If some one in the boat realized that the laser was targeting the motor all the person would have to do is turn the boat, it takes quite a while for a laser to burn an engine like in this video no matter how powerful it is.

[fastacker2]

Respond to this video...Sorry bout that. there is a small thing on a piece of wood to the left of the boat. Looked kinda like a laser, but maybe it is some other device like a camera or something. Or maybe a small laser that helps aim the ship borne laser?

[umbaalowins]

Majority of comments here make me very sad for humanity. This will have far more benefits over conventional munitions used today, a shame most are too narrow-minded to see that.

[iReqGh0stNstuf5]

@richardhg This wasn't a waste; its an advancement towards cost efficient warfare. As opposed to wasting ammo, you can use one power source (a fuel cell, for example) to disable an entire ship.

The pirates wouldn't stand a chance, as I said before. They couldn't get far enough away from the laser to save their lives if they were on a speed boat. This isn't a laser with a person using a scope and handles to aim it; its a computer operated system with 100% accuracy, and it's fast.

[iReqGh0stNstuf5]

@inosome A waste? No not really. This is an electronic device, of which can be powered by an eternally efficient fuel cell, as opposed to 'wasting' money on disposable .308s.

[iReqGh0stNstuf5]

@fastacker2 Uh....they shot that laser from over a mile away from a naval ship and targeted the boat your seeing now.