Navy looks to develop high-energy laser weapon

The Navy is seeking information for producing a high-energy laser weapon within three years that can be used by the military and the Homeland Security Department for several purposes, such as defeating attacks using personal watercraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.

"Emphasis should be placed on an initial capability that could counter a subset of asymmetric threats such as Jet Skis, small-boat swarm attacks, rockets, mortars, artillery rounds, [shoulder-fired missiles], electro-optic sensors, and soft, unmanned aerial vehicles," an Oct. 11 notice in FedBizOpps stated.

The Navy is aiming to begin testing technology in March and envisions developing a weapon that can be fielded as either a land-based system or integrated onto ships.

"As laser and laser-beam control technology matures the system should be able to support upgrades that expand the potential target set, surveillance capabilities and operating range of the system," the notice added.