The military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA USA, announced that tests of a new laser beam weapon had been successfully completed.
The new weapon system will be tested further this summer in real-world conditions in New Mexico. The objectives of his tests will be ground or aerial (rockets, artillery missiles, vehicles, etc.).
The HELLADS program from the original High-Energy Liquid Laser Area System was developed by General Atomics, in collaboration with DARPA.
Unlike other directional power guns, HELLADS units can be powered by lithium-ion batteries, which makes it possible to place them in vehicles and aircraft.
His goal project HELLADS was the creation of a 150 kilowatt laser, which would weigh less than 750 kg, and its size would be less than 3 cubic meters.
In mid-April, the contractor DARPA, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), presented the HEL 3 generation laser. It exactly meets these size specifications and is equipped with a generator that allows the production of 75 with 300 kilowatts.
The developers believe it can be fitted to GA-ASI's new Avenger drone. The jet engine of the drone is enough to generate enough energy to charge it battery του laser κατά την flight. So it will essentially be a gun without ammo as RT reports.
DARPA's ultimate goal is to incorporate the new weapon system into ships, land vehicles, small or larger aircraft,
According to DARPA, the new weapon system is ten times smaller and lighter than today's lasers of the same power.
