Lockheed-developed laser weapon system brings down unmanned aerial vehicles during testing

Lockheed Martin’s prototype laser weapon system recently demonstrated its ability to deliver decisive lethality against unmanned aerial threats through a series of tests with the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command.

The 30-kilowatt Advanced Test High Energy Asset (ATHENA) system brought down five 10’8” wingspan unmanned aerial vehicles using efficient fiber lasers, Lockheed’s advanced beam control technology, and a Rolls-Royce-developed turbo-generator.

The transportable, ground-based ATHENA system defeated a series of airborne targets in flight by causing loss of control and structural failures.

“The tests at White Sands against aerial targets validated our lethality models and replicated the results we’ve seen against static targets at our own test range,” Keoki Jackson, chief technology officer at Lockheed Martin, said.

Lockheed said it will work with the Army to conduct post-mission reviews, refine the system, and improve model predictions, all of which will help inform the development of future laser systems.

“As we mature the technology behind laser weapon systems, we’re making the entire system more effective and moving closer to a laser weapon that will provide greater protection to our warfighters by taking on more sophisticated threats from a longer range,” Jackson said.