A plan by the U.S. Marine Corps to arm its AN/TWQ-1 Avenger low-altitude air defense units with a 30-kilowatt laser weapon is proceeding smoothly, USNI reports.
The Office of Naval Research is spearing heading the Ground-Based Air Defense (GBAD) Directed Energy On-The-Move concept demonstrator program – which is able to start phase 3 testing.
Once the development program is completed around 2022, it will enter as a program of record for the Marines, Lt. Gen. Robert Walsh, deputy commandant of the Marine Corps for combat development and integration, said.
Walsh does not rule out that one day, the laser will take over the role currently fulfilled by the missiles when technology improves.