U.S. Navy Tests New Laser Weapon in Middle East

The U.S. Navy examined a brand new laser weapon within the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen and Somalia, on Tuesday and hit a floating goal, in line with a press launch from the U.S. navy. And because the Associated Press notes, the Navy may quickly be utilizing this expertise to struggle uncrewed boats despatched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels within the Red Sea.

The laser weapons check was carried out by the USS Portland, which was chosen by the U.S. Office of Naval Research in 2018 to turn into outfitted with the cutting-edge expertise.

“During the demonstration, the Solid State Laser – Technology Maturation Laser Weapons System Demonstrator (LWSD) Mark 2 MOD 0 aboard Portland successfully engaged a static surface training target,” the U.S. Navy stated in a press release saying the check.

“Portland previously tested the LWSD in May 2020 when it successfully disabled a small unmanned aerial system while operating in the Pacific Ocean,” the assertion continued.

From the Associated Press:

The Houthis have deployed drone boats into these waters, which might be piloted remotely and despatched as much as a goal earlier than detonating. These boats are suspected of being constructed with Iran’s assist.

Emirati officers in 2018 confirmed off footage they described as coming from a drone boat pc that had Iranians constructing parts for the boat’s steerage system, with a hat seen within the background of 1 image bearing the image of Iran’s hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iran has denied arming the Houthis, although United Nations consultants, impartial analysts and Western nations level to proof displaying Tehran’s hyperlink to the weapons.

And whereas lasers are solely now being deployed within the battlefield right here within the twenty first century, they’ve been a dream of warfare for for much longer. In reality, the U.S. navy first shot down a drone with a laser in 1973 throughout assessments at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.

But why is the U.S. Navy testing this explicit expertise on this a part of the world? According to the navy, it’s simply the right location.

“The region’s geography, climate, and strategic importance offer a unique environment for technology innovation,” the Navy stated in a press release.

“U.S. 5th Fleet’s area of operations includes the world’s largest standing maritime partnership, Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean.”

Roughly 16 million individuals in war-torn Yemen are presently “marching towards starvation,” in line with the UN World Food Program.