The U.S. Navy successfully tested its HELIOS system, a high-energy laser with optical dazzler and surveillance capabilities, on the USS Preble, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, last year, as mentioned in a newly released report.

In January, the Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation published its annual report, which featured an undated photograph of a white light streak emanating from the USS Preble destroyer in the middle of the ocean. Uncertainty surrounds the precise location of the Preble's test. The USS Preble moved its homeport from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan, in October after leaving in September. Now part of Destroyer Squadron 15, it supports Japan's defense and U.S. strategic interests in the region, according to Navy Times. The Preble is the only U.S. destroyer equipped with the HELIOS system, a powerful laser weapon designed to take down fast-attack boats and drones.

In fiscal 2024, the Navy's Center for Countermeasures tested 32 directed energy weapons, including HELIOS. "Development and evaluation of directed energy weapons," the report states, is the goal of the testing. In August 2022, the Navy received the 60-kilowatt laser from Lockheed Martin, which was the first tactical laser system to be mounted on an existing warship. The Preble's 60-kilowatt laser weapon has long-range capability for damage assessment and combat identification, and it can blind intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors installed on drones. The laser fires at the speed of light, which makes it more cost-effective per shot than conventional missile-based defenses and perfect for thwarting inexpensive drones, according to Newsweek.

Particularly in areas like the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where military ships have intercepted drones and missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the navy has been seeking to enhance directed energy weaponry. Vice Adm. Brendan McLane stated in 2024 that laser technology is now more important than ever, as directed-energy weapons can help U.S. warships defend against threats. The Navy has faced challenges in developing and using directed-energy weapons. Problems like power supply limitations, difficulties in real-world use, and environmental factors such as fog and wind have slowed progress. Despite spending $1 billion each year on high-energy lasers and high-power microwaves, the Navy has not yet achieved the results it wants.

Currently, eight Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are equipped with Optical Dazzling Interdictor laser dazzlers, which are used to disrupt enemy sensors. Additionally, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport ship has a 150-kilowatt Laser Weapon System Demonstrator installed.