High Powered Lasers
 

First operational system deployment?

First contract for two - one land based and one at sea; options for the rest of the fleet?

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contrac...ticle/1425283/

Lockheed Martin Aculight Corp., Bothell, Washington, is being awarded a $150,022,901 cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for Surface Navy Laser Weapon System Increment 1, High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler with surveillance system. Under this contract Lockheed Martin Aculight Corp. will develop, manufacture, and deliver two test units in fiscal 2020 (one unit for DDG 51 FLT IIA, and one for land-based testing).

This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $942,818,114.

Work will be performed in Bothell, Washington (52 percent); Moorestown, New Jersey (31 percent); Owego, New York (9 percent); Marion, Massachusetts (3 percent); Clearwater, Florida (3 percent); Manassas, Virginia (0.9 percent); Baltimore, Maryland (0.6 percent); and Akron, Ohio (0.5 percent), and is expected to be completed by April 2020.

Fiscal 2018 research, development, testing, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,500,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with four proposals received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-18-C-5392).

Is an "Optical Dazzler" supposed to blind anybody who looks at it?

I’m guessing more like discombobulating the brain.
Same as the strobe setting on “tactical” flashlights.
Just better.

Doesn't say which vessels they're thinking of- maybe a Zumwalt?

The LBJ is still under construction................

The UK has its own programme under way. Dragonfire is intended to work in effect as a CIWS with scalable power ranging from dazzle to destruction of target. Tests are due to start next year with the aim of having a deployable system by the mid 2020s.

Some details here:

https://www.qinetiq.com/en-gb/news/2...d-at-dsei-2017

They'd better be quick - by end 2020's we'll probably have a navy consisting of 1 carrier and some subs................

https://www.dvidshub.net/news/418430...-weapon-system

Navy Conducts Historic Test of New Laser Weapon System

I think laser “dazzle” weapons have been at sea for quite a while now.

If its really good, will it be called a Bobby Dazzler?

They state one DDG-51 Flight IIA, that’s an Arleigh-Burke class Destroyer. I think they are still trying to work out what on earth to do with the Zumwalts.

Regards
Mortmeister

Certainly in use 40 years ago!

Mog

They've had them in use on approach into Cairo for a number of years.

Not a dazzler though, is it? Took out the engine on a cruise missile….

Similar successful trials in Israel against not only missiles but artillery shells.

Looks like laser defence has come of age….