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One of the smaller and newer vessels in the United States Navy fleet of warships is expected to receive a new powerful laser weapon system. The USS Little Rock is the latest ship to obtain laser weapon capabilities. The laser system is one of the more powerful lasers in the military and is capable of damaging small boats, aircraft, and drones.
General Dynamics has been contracted to install a 150 kilowatt laser weapon system aboard the littoral combat ship, the USS Little Rock.
Both the ship and the laser system were developed and made by Lockheed Martin, therefore integrating the laser system onboard the ship will likely not be too difficult to do. Depending on the atmospheric conditions in the area, the laser weapon should be powerful enough to damage or destroy small aircraft, including drones and UAVs. The system is likely also capable of sinking smaller boats, such as the armed speedboats that Iran operates, by burning holes in the boat or by detonating the boat’s fuel supply or weapons. However, the strength of the laser is heavily dependent on the weather conditions in the area, so any dust, smoke, steam, or ice particles in the air can negatively affect the beam’s strength.
Popularmechanics.com reports that Little Rock will be the fourth American warship to be equipped with a laser weapon system. The first laser was installed in 2014 aboard the USS Ponce and it sported a 30 kilowatt laser, possibly capable of damaging small boats and drones.
Several other Naval vessels have been spotted with laser weapons installed on them. These lasers are often lower powered laser systems intended to blind enemy sensors on boats, aircraft, and missiles.
Other United States Naval ships that operate laser weapon systems include the USS Portland, which also operates a 150 kilowatt laser weapon, and the USS Dewey, which operates a 60 kilowatt ODIN laser system.
