{"id":31367,"date":"2020-06-10T00:26:44","date_gmt":"2020-06-10T00:26:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/06\/10\/airborne-laser-weapon-on-track-for-2022-demonstration\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:12:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:12:34","slug":"airborne-laser-weapon-on-track-for-2022-demonstration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2020\/06\/10\/airborne-laser-weapon-on-track-for-2022-demonstration\/","title":{"rendered":"Airborne laser weapon on track for 2022 demonstration"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Leaders from Air Force Special Operations Command wanted an airborne-mounted laser weapon by the end of 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, they expect a demonstration in fiscal year 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 60-kilowatt high energy laser will be mounted on an AC-130J Ghostrider, a massively armed workhorse for the Air Force. The laser weapon will be a cherry on top to the gunship, which already boasts a 30mm side-firing chain gun, a 105mm cannon, AGM-176A Griffin laser guided missiles, wing-mounted GBU-39\/B GPS-guided and GBU-39B\/B laser-guided Small Diameter Bombs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike those kinetic weapons, the offensive high energy laser would be able to disable enemy systems stealthily. As envisioned, a Ghostrider could take out several aircraft, defensive weapons and sensors with its silent, unseen laser weapons before the enemy even knew they were under attack. There\u2019s no explosion, sounds or flashes of lights to alarm the targets. An enemy combatant would only realize what had happened once they attempted to use a system that had already been disabled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the virtual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference May 13, Col. Melissa Johnson, the program executive officer for fixed wing at U.S. Special Operations Command, acknowledged the Department of Defense\u2019s laser development efforts have not been steady over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2015, Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold, former head of Air Force Special Operations Command, said he wanted \u201ca high energy laser on an AC-130J gunship by the close of this decade.”<\/p>\n\n\n\t