The US military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, announced that tests of a new laser weapon have been successfully completed.
The new weapon system will be further tested this summer in real-world conditions in New Mexico. Its test targets will be moving ground or air targets (missiles, artillery shells, vehicles, etc.).
The HELLADS program, which stands for High-Energy Liquid Laser Area System, was developed by General Atomics, in collaboration with DARPA.
Unlike other directed energy weapons, HELLADS units can be powered by lithium-ion batteries, which makes it possible to mount them on vehicles and aircraft.
The goal of the HELLADS project was to create a 150 kilowatt laser, which would weigh under 750 kilograms, and its size would be less than 3 cubic meters.
In mid-April, DARPA contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) unveiled its 3rd generation HEL laser. It meets exactly these size specifications and is equipped with a generator capable of producing 75 to 300 kilowatts.
The developers believe it could be mounted on GA-ASI's new Avenger drone. The drone's jet engine is enough to generate enough energy to charge the laser's battery in flight. So it would essentially be an ammunition-free weapon, RT reports.
DARPA's ultimate goal is to integrate the new weapon system into ships, ground vehicles, small or larger aircraft, etc.
According to DARPA, the new weapon system is ten times smaller and lighter than current lasers of the same power.
