{"id":51241,"date":"2025-02-04T20:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T20:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2025\/02\/04\/us-navy-hits-drone-with-helios-laser-in-successful-test\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:02:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:02:33","slug":"us-navy-hits-drone-with-helios-laser-in-successful-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2025\/02\/04\/us-navy-hits-drone-with-helios-laser-in-successful-test\/","title":{"rendered":"US Navy hits drone with HELIOS laser in successful test"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. Navy successfully tested its High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance, or HELIOS, system on one of its warships in fiscal 2024, according<\/a> to a recently released report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Preble fired its HELIOS system to zap an aerial drone during a weapons testing exercise in 2024, according to an Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation report published in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report, which did not provide a date or time of the laser\u2019s deployment, included a black-and-white photo showing a streak of white light beaming out from the vessel into the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Center for Countermeasures \u2014 a program developed in 1972 to gauge the Defense Department\u2019s ability to combat emerging technological threats \u2014 conducted 32 tests in fiscal year 2024, which included the \u201cdevelopment and evaluation of directed energy weapons,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This test conducted on the Preble was run \u201cto verify and validate the functionality, performance, and capability\u201d of the HELIOS system, the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s unclear where the test took place. The Preble departed Naval Base San Diego, California, in September 2024 and arrived<\/a> in Yokosuka, Japan, on Oct. 12, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n