The U.S. Navy is sharing lessons learn from the deployment of an operational laser weapon system on USS Ponce with the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
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By U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams via Wikimedia Commons
Commander of AFSOC, Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold, said the data will help his team in its development of a laser weapon for the AC-130, to be ready in five years time.
Heithold told Defense News that the 180-200 kilowatt laser weapon can be employed in both an offensive and defensive role. In a defensive role, sensors will have to be added to the AC-130 to detect incoming threats from all quadrants.
During his presentation at the Association of Old Crows annual symposium, Heithold said a laser weapon-armed AC-130 is capable of defending an entire special operations strike package.