Navy Lasers, Railgun, and Gun-Launched Guided Projectile: Background and Issues for Congress
Abstract
Three new ship-based weapons being developed by the Navy - solid state lasers (SSLs), the electromagnetic railgun (EMRG), and the gun-launched guided projectile (GLGP), also known as the hypervelocity projectile (HVP) - could substantially improve the ability of Navy surface ships to defend themselves against surface craft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and eventually anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs). The Navy has been developing SSLs for several years, and in 2014 installed on a Navy ship its first prototype SSL capable of countering surface craft and UAVs. The Navy since then has been developing and installing additional SSL prototypes with improved capability for countering surface craft and UAVs. Higher-power SSLs being developed by the Navy are to have a capability for countering ASCMs. Current Navy efforts to develop SSLs include the Solid State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) effort; the Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN); the Surface Navy Laser Weapon System (SNLWS) Increment 1, also known as the high-energy laser with integrated optical dazzler and surveillance (HELIOS); and the High Energy Laser Counter-ASCM Program (HELCAP).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 26, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1169991
Entities
People
- Ronald O'Rourke
Organizations
- Library of Congress