The U.S. Navy has developed a directed-energy weapon that can intercept unmanned drones and possibly cruise missiles while enhancing naval operations in combat areas.

The undated image shows the U.S. Navy testing a weapon system known as HELIOS from the USS Preble destroyer in the middle of the ocean.

In the vast expanse of the ocean, a streak of white light pierces the sky. It’s not a natural phenomenon, but a weapon — a high-energy laser fired from the deck of a U.S. Navy destroyer. This is HELIOS, the High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance, and it represents a bold step into the future of military technology.

The US Navy’s HELIOS laser weapon, a cutting-edge directed energy system, has demonstrated its potential in recent tests, taking down aerial threats with precision. Installed on USS Preble, HELIOS represents a major shift in naval defence,

The U.S. Navy has revealed that it tested out its High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) by shooting an aerial target

Combining a high-energy laser with an optical dazzler, HELIOS can both destroy and disable threats, as well as disrupt enemy sensors.