"The SSL-TM demonstrator was designed to provide a new capability to the Fleet to address known capability gaps against asymmetric threats like aerial drones and small boats laden with explosives."
"The system successfully destroyed a drone target during at-sea testing in the Gulf of Aden in May 2020, yielding one of the most vivid representations of a real-world laser weapon in action."
"The restoration of critical functions to the SSL-TM demonstrator began in early March 2025, as part of the Navy's efforts to enhance its directed energy capabilities."
The U.S. Navy has spent six months restoring the 150 kilowatt Solid State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) demonstrator for military exercises. This system, originally installed on the USS Portland in 2019, aims to address capability gaps against threats like drones and explosive-laden small boats. The SSL-TM successfully destroyed a drone in 2020 and neutralized a small surface target in 2021, demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world scenarios. The restoration efforts were conducted at the Directed Energy Systems Integration Laboratory in California.
Read at Fast Company
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