Fog of War: The Biggest Challenge for Naval Laser Weapons

Laser weapons require line of sight and atmospheric stability, and the ocean provides neither.

Amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland conducts a high-energy laser weapon system demonstration on a static surface training target while sailing in the Gulf of Aden in December 2021. (US Navy photo)

Last week, Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby sat in front of Congress and delivered a sobering update on the US Navy’s High Energy Laser …