The future of war is upon us. However, while many are worried about the implications of AI and drones changing the landscape of conflicts the world over, the U.S. Navy is now testing its newest piece of high-tech weaponry: a laser. Veuer’s Tony Spitz has the details.
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00:00The future of war is upon us. However, while many are worried about the implications of AI and drones
00:05changing the landscape of conflicts the world over, the U.S. Navy is now testing its newest
00:10piece of high-tech weaponry, a laser. This image was recently published by the Navy's Office of
00:15the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation. It shows what they are calling Helios, a high-powered
00:20laser being fired from the USS Preble destroyer warship. They say its purpose is to take down
00:26uncrewed aerial vehicles or UAVs, more commonly called drones. It can also down watercraft and
00:31missiles all by superheating them. Helios stands for High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical
00:36Dazzler and Surveillance, and it was developed by Lockheed Martin. Testing will continue throughout
00:41the year and present a shift in the minute-to-minute fighting of war. The capabilities of Helios are
00:46currently under wraps. However, the UK's Dragonfire laser is able to hit a coin from over half a mile
00:51away, all at light speed. Lasers also have a substantially lower operating cost than traditional
00:57drone and missile defense systems.