Flash News: US Navy’s USS Preble Arleigh Burke Destroyer Destroys Aerial Drone with HELIOS Laser Weapon.

The U.S. Center for Countermeasures (CCM) played a pivotal role in supporting the U.S. Navy’s demonstration aboard USS Preble (DDG 88) Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, where the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system was tested against an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) target to verify and validate its operational performance. This critical event, documented in the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report published by the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) in January 2025, marks a significant step in transitioning directed energy laser weapon systems from developmental platforms to fully integrated naval weapons.
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In Fiscal Year 2024, the U.S. Center for Countermeasures (CCM) supported 32 test events, including this key demonstration aboard USS Preble (DDG 88), where the U.S. Navy employed the HELIOS laser weapon system to engage an aerial drone. (Picture source: US. Operational Test and Evaluation report)

During the test, the U.S. CCM (Center for Countermeasures) collected high-resolution engagement imagery to support comprehensive performance analysis, underscoring the strategic importance of HELIOS in enhancing the Navy’s capability to counter emerging aerial threats at sea.

The successful use of the HELIOS (Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance) laser weapon system aboard USS Preble signifies a transformative moment in naval warfare, as the U.S. Navy continues its shift toward incorporating directed energy technologies to address evolving threats. One of the core motivations for this transition is the increasing sophistication and volume of low-cost aerial threats, particularly UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Systems) and swarm drones, which challenge traditional shipborne defense systems in terms of cost, response time, and sustainability during prolonged engagements.

HELIOS, which stands for High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance, is a cutting-edge directed energy weapon developed by Lockheed Martin for integration aboard surface combatants like the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The system combines a powerful 60-kilowatt-class solid-state laser capable of destroying or disabling incoming threats such as UAVs and small boats, with an optical dazzler designed to blind or disrupt hostile sensors without resorting to lethal force. In addition to its offensive capabilities, HELIOS provides advanced surveillance and targeting functions, enhancing shipboard situational awareness. Its tight integration with the Aegis Combat System allows it to operate seamlessly alongside conventional kinetic defenses, creating a unified, multi-layered protective shield for naval assets.

Conventional close-in defense systems such as the Phalanx CIWS (Close-In Weapon System), the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM), and the RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) remain essential components of the U.S. Navy’s layered defense architecture. However, these systems are constrained by finite magazine sizes, high per-shot costs, and the physical limitations of kinetic munitions. For example, the Phalanx CIWS relies on rapid-fire 20mm rounds to intercept incoming threats, while missile-based systems like the RAM and ESSM involve expensive and limited ammunition stocks. In contrast, HELIOS delivers a silent, speed-of-light energy beam that can engage multiple targets consecutively without the need to reload, as long as electrical power is available aboard the vessel.

The tactical advantages of laser weapons extend beyond mere cost-effectiveness. The HELIOS system provides precision engagement capabilities, minimizing the risk of collateral damage during operations near civilian areas or in congested littoral environments. Its integrated optical dazzler also enables non-lethal engagements, disrupting the sensors of incoming UAVs without necessarily destroying them—a critical feature for operations where escalation must be carefully managed. Furthermore, laser weapons do not produce debris or secondary explosions, which is advantageous when neutralizing threats in proximity to friendly forces or sensitive infrastructure.

Beyond their physical performance, systems like HELIOS are fully integrated with the Aegis Combat System, enabling seamless communication with the ship’s radar, fire control, and surveillance suites. This tight integration improves threat detection and tracking, and allows for automated engagements when required. It also means that HELIOS can function as part of a multi-layered defense web, working in tandem with conventional missile and gun systems to provide overlapping coverage and redundancy.

The demonstration aboard the U.S. Navy USS Preble destroyer is the culmination of over a decade of U.S. Navy investment in laser weapon technology. The program’s roots can be traced back to the 2014 deployment of the Laser Weapon System (LaWS) aboard USS Ponce in the Persian Gulf. That early prototype successfully disabled small boats and UAVs, proving the potential of lasers in maritime environments. In 2020, Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract to develop HELIOS as a 60-kilowatt-class laser system designed to integrate with surface combatants like the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Since then, the Navy has pursued incremental upgrades and testing, with HELIOS representing the first truly operational, ship-integrated laser weapon in the U.S. surface fleet.

The FY2024 test marks a critical transition from development to fielded capability. With real-world validation now achieved, the U.S. Navy is poised to expand the deployment of directed energy systems across more vessels in the fleet. As the maritime domain grows more contested, and as adversaries increasingly turn to asymmetric tactics such as drone swarms and electronic warfare, the need for adaptable, cost-effective, and precise ship defense systems becomes ever more urgent.

The successful testing of the HELIOS laser weapon system aboard USS Preble not only showcases the U.S. Navy’s technological progress but also reflects a strategic evolution in naval combat doctrine. Directed energy weapons, once relegated to the realm of science fiction, are now becoming essential tools in the modern naval arsenal—quiet, efficient, and deadly at the speed of light.