US Navy plans to test a ship-mounted laser weapon

The United States Navy's (USN's) Office of Naval Research (ONR) is looking for industry proposals to develop and demonstrate an affordable solid-state laser weapon prototype for shipboard use, it stated in a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) published on 14 August.

"We are in the process of developing a laser weapon prototype for the naval surface fleet to counter small, unmanned aerial vehicles and small boat threats," said Chief of Naval Research Rear Admiral Matthew Klunder.

The ONR hosted an industry day in May to provide the research and development community with information about its planned Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) programme. Feedback gleaned from industry has now been incorporated into the (BAA).