‘A Laser on Every Ship': Navy Leaders Are Dreaming of a Laser Fleet

Including megawatt-level laser weapons for the service’s future Trump-class battleships.

The US Navy tests its High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) laser weapon system aboard the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Preble in an undisclosed location. (DoD photo)

After years of hesitation and incremental progress, senior US Navy leaders are now publicly committing to fielding shipboard high-energy laser wea…