The undated image shows the U.S. Navy testing a weapon system known as HELIOS from the USS Preble destroyer in the middle of the ocean.

The US Navy’s HELIOS laser weapon, a cutting-edge directed energy system, has demonstrated its potential in recent tests, taking down aerial threats with precision. Installed on USS Preble, HELIOS represents a major shift in naval defence,

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. (Tribune News Service) — A new photo from the United States military shows the successful use of a laser weapon made to destroy drones. The U.S. Center for Countermeasures’ released the photo of the USS Preble using the laser weapon, referred to as “HELIOS” in its annual report.

The U.S. Navy’s High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system faced its first airborne target during a test in 2024, a first-time for the HELIOS program that will help the U.S. Navy inform other programs under the Directed Energy and Electric Weapon System effort.

The U.S. Navy has developed a directed-energy weapon that can intercept unmanned drones and possibly cruise missiles while enhancing naval operations in combat areas.

US Navy's HELIOS weapon can generate more than 60 kilowatts of directed energy, with potential upgrades to 120 kilowatts. Despite the test's success, the Navy has encountered significant challenges in developing laser weapons,

The destroyer Preble successfully test-fired its HELIOS system on a drone target, according to a recently released report.

In the vast expanse of the ocean, a streak of white light pierces the sky. It’s not a natural phenomenon, but a weapon — a high-energy laser fired from the deck of a U.S. Navy destroyer. This is HELIOS,