The US Navy successfully tested its new laser weapon system aboard the USS Portland during the first week in May. During the Hawaii test, USS Portland fired a laser onto an unmanned floating aircraft. This was the first time the Navy had deployed a laser weapon system on a ship. Northrop Grumman was responsible for the design of the laser weapon system. It can be used against small aircraft and unmanned aerial systems. The laser is expected be more powerful than the one that was tested by the Navy on USS Ponce (AFSB (I)-15) seven-years ago.
The laser system in Portland is expected be 150 kilowatts. That's five times more power than the 30-kilowatt one that was tested on USS Ponce. This upgrade is part of the Navy’s effort to improve the laser weapons systems onboard ships. The laser is expected be able destroy or disable unmanned aerial vehicle, artillery, mortars and rockets. The laser's range on Portland has not been determined by the US Navy.
USS Portland (San Antonio-class amphibious dock ship) is part of the San Antonio class. She is part of the USS Essex Amphibious Ready Group. She will be deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet, where she will take part in the Rim Of The Pacific wargames. During these exercises, Portland will be the flagship of the multinational military exercises. The ship will also be accompanied by three additional ships: USS Little Rock, a amphibious assaultship, USS Pearl Harbor, a amphibious landing ship, and USS Essex. All three ships will carry 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
Portland is expected to be the first ship in the United States to deploy an operational laser weapon system. This is a major step towards improving the United States' defenses against small boats, unmanned aircraft vehicles, and artillery. It will also serve to remind allies of America's naval superiority.
Officials from the US Navy claim that the new laser weapon is capable of protecting ships against small boats, mortars and rockets. It will also be used to counter Houthi rebels across the Red Sea. For years, the Navy has been developing directed-energy weapons. In fact, the Navy regularly tests new technology in the Arabian Peninsula. It also demonstrated robots in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Aden.
Northrop Grumman was awarded the contract to test and develop the laser weapon system. This contract was awarded in 2015. The company is also part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group. The company is working on the Solid State Laser - Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) Laser Weapon System Demonstrator, which is a high-energy laser weapon system. To generate a stronger beam, the SSL-TM employs multiple lasers with different wavelengths. SSL-TM has also been tested at land. This demonstration is believed to be the first step in developing a 150-kilowatt weapon laser.
The Navy has tested the laser system on USS Ponce as well as Portland. This is an interim afloat forward station in the Middle East. In October 2000, the ship was attacked by a suicide bomber in a small boat. The attack left two dead and injured others. The attack also caused damage to the engines.