US Navy has created and is developing new laser weapons

39

Destroyer USS Dewey (DDG-105) with experimental complex ODIN

The United States Navy has shown great interest in laser arms, and the next project of this kind has been brought to tests on the carrier ship. The ODIN project takes into account the experience of previous developments and is intended to solve other problems. Now we are talking about other principles of counteraction and defeat - with the provision of broad combat capabilities.

New development


The new Optical Dazzling Interceptor, Navy (ODIN) project was created by the Dahlgren Division of the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC). Work commenced in FY2018, with early reports of the project coming later. At the same time, most of the information about the ODIN system was not disclosed until recently.



It should be recalled that this is not the first time NSWC has been dealing with shipborne lasers. In the early tenths, he developed and launched the AN / SEQ-3 LaWS ship-based combat laser for testing. This system did not suit the Navy, which is why it did not enter service. At the same time, a lot of experience was accumulated in the creation of combat lasers, which they decided to use in the next project.

In November last year, an interesting photo appeared on profile resources. It showed the destroyer USS Dewey (DDG-105) with a new unknown device in front of the superstructure. Later, new photos were published, incl. better quality. At the beginning, the Navy did not comment on these publications in any way and did not disclose information about the modernization of the ship.

At the end of February this year, an official press release revealed some information about the new project. It was alleged that the destroyer was equipped with an optical-electronic suppression complex (COEP) of the ODIN type - the first system of this class created for the US Navy. The tactical and technical characteristics were not specified, but the main tasks were indicated. With the help of the new KOEP, the ship will defend against unmanned aerial vehicles and some other threats.


Combat module ODIN without part of the equipment

For FY2021 construction of several new experimental products and their subsequent testing is planned. Based on their results, conclusions will be drawn about the real characteristics and capabilities of the complex - and a decision has been made to launch production to equip other ships of the Navy.

Notable features


Not so long ago, representatives of the command of the Navy visited the Dahlgren Division of the NSWC, and several photographs were attached to the official announcement. They show ODIN COEP on the stand and without optics. In addition, a demonstration stand was caught in the lens, which indicated the product index - A / N SEQ-4 (this is probably an error, and the correct spelling is AN / SEQ-4). It also provided data on the combat module, but not on the laser.

The ODIN module is built on a compact platform mounted on a suitable deck or superstructure area. There is a set of cables for power and control - they must be connected to the general ship systems of the carrier and to the devices of the information and control system. A U-shaped slewing support is mounted on the platform, holding the unit with laser emitters. The design of the module provides laser guidance in two planes.

The block of emitters has a rectangular shape and rather large dimensions - the laser is placed inside it. There are several lenses of different sizes on the front wall. This shows that the laser is guided using the complex's own optics. Perhaps this COEP can also work on target designation of other shipborne vehicles.

Secret laser


The type of laser used and its characteristics are unknown. In this context, we should recall the features of the previous project. The complex from NSWC, AN / SEQ-3 LaWS, included a solid-state infrared laser with a radiation power of up to 30 kW. This was enough to inflict damage on light boats or UAVs.


US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday examines the design of the combat module

By changing the radiation power, it was possible to burn through structural elements or disable optoelectronic systems. The "shot" of the laser, regardless of the power, was distinguished by its extremely low cost, which favorably distinguished it from missiles and guns. At the same time, tests showed that LaWS does not always cope with the most difficult combat missions - it lacked power, and atmospheric phenomena reduced the transfer of energy to the target.

It cannot be ruled out that the new draft A / N SEQ-4 provides for the application of some solutions and / or components from the previous AN / SEQ-3. Despite the problems with "burning through" targets, the LaWS complex coped well with their "blinding". The new ODIN project provides only for optoelectronic suppression, which reduces the requirements for its emitting means. Thus, the process of creating a new COEC could do without developing a fundamentally new laser while obtaining the desired characteristics and capabilities.

Expected future


So far, the ODIN COEP exists in only a few copies, and only one of them is installed on the carrier ship. In the near future, he will undergo tests that will determine the further fate of the entire project. First of all, the units of the combat module will be tested. Then the testing of optics and laser will begin.

They plan to spend no more than two years on testing and fine-tuning the A / N SEQ-4. After that, the Navy wants to get new systems and install them on carriers. In the future, a full-scale series with mass equipment of surface ships is expected. This will strengthen the protection fleet from all current threats.


At the helm

Current tests show that it is in principle possible to install ODIN COEP on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Apparently, integration on ships and vessels of the US Navy of all major types is possible. Given the successes achieved, the command highly appreciates the new development. The Navy hopes that during the tests it will show its best side, will come to service and will increase the defensive potential of the ships.

Goals and objectives


The launch of the ODIN project is directly related to the development of the unmanned aviation and precision weapons. Fighting such threats with firepower is proving to be quite difficult and expensive, which requires alternative solutions. Lasers have a high potential in this context.

Reconnaissance and strike UAVs, as well as some types of guided weapons, carry optics of different ranges. Suppression of the camera or homing head does not lead to the immediate destruction of the missile or drone, but makes them safe for the ship or the warrant as a whole.

The proposed complex is not simple or cheap, but has other advantages. Basically, these are positive features inherent in all combat lasers, namely, the cheapness of the "shot", the absence of the need to store ammunition, the simplicity of calculating data for "shooting", etc.

The ODIN product should only disable the optics, which reduces the requirements for laser power and exposure time. In addition, the effective use of the complex is not excluded due to adverse weather conditions, although the range and power should be reduced.

With all its advantages, the A / N SEQ-4 laser COEP cannot be the only means of protecting a surface ship or boat. At the same time, the use of such a complex together with missiles and artillery will significantly strengthen the ship's defense, ensuring the defeat of individual targets without the expense of expensive ammunition. At the same time, traditional fire weapons will remain the basis of the ship's air defense.

Suppression instead of destruction


The previous ship-based combat laser, created to destroy surface or air targets, showed itself not in the best way and did not cope with all assigned tasks. As a result, the US Navy closed the LaWS project and replaced it with the new ODIN. At the moment, the new development looks quite interesting and, most likely, has certain prospects.

However, while the A / N SEQ-4 ODIN COEP exists only in the form of a few prototypes, one of which is being tested on the carrier. They are planning to spend about two years on further work, after which the KOEP will be able to enter service. Time will tell whether it will be possible to meet these deadlines and solve all the tasks.
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  1. -2
    20 November 2020 18: 09
    The Navy will install the ODIN [Optical Dazzling Interdictor] laser weapon system on eight ships over the next three years, Peterkin said. One is already installed on the Arlie Burke-class destroyer USS Dewey.

    Frank Peterkin, Senior Directed Energy Technologist at the Office of Naval Research (ONR), revealed this overall timeline for the deployment of the next seven ODINs to the Navy's fleets during an online discussion on July 7, 2020.
  2. 0
    20 November 2020 18: 11
    And yet, all the same. If there exist and are developing new systems for hitting enemy targets at long distances with missiles, hundreds and thousands of kilometers away, for which sea targets will these lasers be designed? On shkonka pirates or careless tourists, swollen by chance in a war zone or location of the Navy?
    1. -4
      20 November 2020 18: 13
      The initial Navy mission sets up lasers that will blind sensors on enemy platforms and capture and strike unmanned aerial vehicles. Future missions will likely include hitting incoming missiles, including the Swarms.
      1. 0
        20 November 2020 18: 40
        Quote: OgnennyiKotik
        The initial Navy mission sets up lasers that will blind sensors on enemy platforms and capture and strike unmanned aerial vehicles. Future missions will likely include hitting incoming missiles, including the Swarms.

        Sensors on enemy platforms. What is this?
        UAV targeting such a ship? What's the point? He obviously will not reach it, they will have time to shoot him down.
        Probable hit by incoming missiles. Probably subsonic and not vertically falling.
        1. -1
          20 November 2020 18: 54
          First of all, ODIN is created against Chinese and Iranian UAVs. To prevent observation of them and possible missile guidance. Barrel air defense has a limited range, it is expensive to spend missiles on UAVs, and most importantly, their limited number on a ship. In addition, shooting down a UAV in peacetime is not comme il faut; if you burn observation devices, there will be no loud scandal.
          1. 0
            20 November 2020 19: 23
            Quote: OgnennyiKotik
            First of all, ODIN is created against Chinese and Iranian UAVs. To prevent observation of them and possible missile guidance. Barrel air defense has a limited range, it is expensive to spend missiles on UAVs, and most importantly, their limited number on a ship. In addition, shooting down a UAV in peacetime is not comme il faut; if you burn observation devices, there will be no loud scandal.

            Are you saying that the cost of such lasers and for such purposes is a perfectly reasonable explanation?
            I don’t remember that the Anglo-Saxons were somehow worried about the downed Iranian passenger plane or other incidents with the use of cannon air defense, so I think that scandals have never spoiled their appetite.
            Maybe they really spend money on these lasers for the sake of future savings in shells and missiles, but it's somehow doubtful if, in modern conditions, missile guidance can be carried out using space satellites. But I would not rule it out as just a banal budget cut. After all, people with their own shortcomings and desires also live there.
          2. 0
            1 January 2021 15: 57
            OgnennyiKotik. I want to give them a hint that they should practice in the studios of Gollywood. And after all, they must put a homing head on the laser beam. It would be nice to negotiate with the laser trade union. What if there’s a strike and they’ll start throwing a beam inside? ..
    2. 0
      21 November 2020 09: 03
      Quote: credo
      what sea targets will these lasers be designed for

      In my opinion, the close air defense zone, 1-2 km. Disabling the controls (guidance) of the attacking means.
  3. +2
    20 November 2020 18: 31
    Combat lasers are an interesting development, but this is not even tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, a laser on a ship will never replace a missile weapon, since a laser can only be used in the line of sight of a target, i.e. shooting beyond the horizon with a laser is impossible due to the principle of operation of this weapon, however, in the sphere of the air defense system, laser weapons on a ship have a great future, it is unlikely to be used against ships and ground objects, it is necessary to approach the enemy too close, but air defense, this is interesting and promising. Everyone is working on this now, I think we are no exception.
    1. +1
      20 November 2020 19: 50
      Quote: Orel
      Combat lasers are an interesting development, only this is not even tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, a laser on a ship will never replace missile weapons

      Yes, it seems, no one is even configured for this. It doesn't bother anyone that rockets have not replaced bombs and cannon artillery, and with the advent of machine guns, knives and bayonets have not disappeared. Everyone is good in their place and complements, rather than replaces, others. Perhaps the only naval weapon that has completely disappeared in the course of scientific and technological progress is a ram. :)
      1. 0
        20 November 2020 20: 19
        Quote: Avis
        It doesn't bother anyone that rockets have not replaced bombs and cannon artillery, and with the advent of machine guns, knives and bayonets have not disappeared. Everyone is good in their place and complements, rather than replaces, others.


        With a laser, the thing is different, it really wins as a means of air defense against missiles of missiles, cheaper, faster - the speed of the laser beam is astronomical, there are three problems: sufficient energy power, guidance and reload speed. Decide, the laser will be very effective, let's see
        1. 0
          20 November 2020 20: 54
          Quote: Orel
          three problems: sufficient power output, guidance and reload speed.

          Well, so, the first hand grips were exactly the same.
        2. +1
          20 November 2020 22: 40
          there are three problems: sufficient power output, guidance and reload speed.
          The main problems of lasers are beam divergence and scattering losses when passing through the atmosphere. And these problems are fundamental.
          1. +1
            21 November 2020 10: 58
            I wonder how this hyperboloid fights the fog?
            1. +1
              22 November 2020 13: 40
              I wonder how this hyperboloid fights the fog?
              No way. The only way is to increase the power of the output pulse. Moreover, the increase is extremely significant. So that there is enough margin to defeat the target and all possible losses at the planned distance and all possible methods of counteraction. But this runs into engineering problems.
              And it doesn't matter if it will be one more powerful unit or a certain number of synchronized units of lower power.
    2. 0
      21 November 2020 22: 22
      Combat lasers are an interesting development, only this is not even tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow,
      I want to disappoint you a little - the combat laser is rather our yesterday and the day before yesterday !!! Attempts to create a combat laser are already more than half a century old - during this long period of time not a single one was created !!! a copy of a laser cannon actually put into service and used in war, and probably there are very objective reasons for this !!!
      Using laser weapons in air defense is also problematic, since modern missiles and UAVs are actively switching to hypersonic sound - and at such speeds, aiming and keeping the laser beam on the target becomes a big problem !!!
  4. 0
    20 November 2020 19: 22
    "The US Navy has created and is developing a new laser weapon"
    And where is the old mastered laser weapon. No.
  5. +3
    20 November 2020 19: 31
    Due to the fact that radar homing systems are in practice very sensitive to electronic warfare, recently there has been a tendency towards various kinds of optical and matrix IR homing devices. A sufficiently powerful laser, Possibly capable of providing protection
    In addition, a powerful laser can be the basis for the guidance of laser-guided air defense missiles, which is jam-resistant due to its power.
    That is, in combination with a powerful laser, even a relatively simple missile will ensure target destruction.
  6. -9
    20 November 2020 19: 34
    and a full hold of batteries to fire once laughing
  7. +2
    20 November 2020 19: 40
    They give. It's already enviable.
  8. -6
    20 November 2020 20: 00
    They are planning to spend about two years on further work, after which the KOEP will be able to enter service. Time will tell whether it will be possible to meet these deadlines and solve all the tasks.

    Time will not tell.
    The sick organism of the US state will not last two years. request
    1. 0
      20 November 2020 21: 40
      Quote: flicker
      The sick organism of the US state will not last two years.

      I would also like the Schaub / Yankees have disappeared into the abyss, but the Yankees themselves do not want this at all, so they come up with the most amazing technologies. The most advanced in the world. This is called a super way of life.
      1. +1
        20 November 2020 21: 50
        What exactly makes you want these weird things? How have the Americans personally offended you, that you want them immediately into the abyss? Beat you? Robbed? The dog was poisoned?
      2. -2
        20 November 2020 23: 22
        but the Yankees themselves do not want this at all
        Wanting and being able are not the same thing.
        The political structure of the US state has exhausted its vitality.
        And they do not want to change him - that means death.
        Advanced technologies in industry cannot help solve the political crisis. Moreover, advanced technologies are only exacerbating the political crisis.
        They don't have two years.
        1. -1
          21 November 2020 09: 26
          yeah, but as usual, the dollar will collapse right into yellowstone, and the end of your America. it never happened, and again
  9. 0
    20 November 2020 20: 33
    An amazingly informative article. I read it - and immediately the purpose, characteristics and development prospects became clear. There would be more such authors.
  10. -1
    20 November 2020 21: 02
    Quote: credo
    And yet, all the same. If there exist and are developing new systems for hitting enemy targets at long distances with missiles, hundreds and thousands of kilometers away, for which sea targets will these lasers be designed?


    And yet, all the same. If new slings exist and are being developed, what targets will these bows be designed for?

    And yet, all the same. If new bows exist and are being developed, what targets will these muskets be designed for?
  11. 0
    20 November 2020 23: 22
    Quote: credo
    And yet, all the same. If there exist and are developing new systems for hitting enemy targets at long distances with missiles, hundreds and thousands of kilometers away, for which sea targets will these lasers be designed? On shkonka pirates or careless tourists, swollen by chance in a war zone or location of the Navy?

    you carefully re-read the article. Blinding precision weapon guidance systems and UAVs. they are not going to burn anyone with this laser. * Peresvet *, as it were, too .. only they are going to blind the observation satellites
  12. -1
    21 November 2020 07: 46
    Interesting of course that's all. Lasers-slimers. Well, I just counted (sorry, Friday beer was winked ).
    The radio broadcast is muted (EW or Prapor). The visibility is perfect. 15 versts The rocket saw the board with its eyes - "Aha!" The laser examined her - "Wow!" Both had their brain drives working. Piu-piu-piu from the ship. "Shirk-shirk-shirk" steering wheels.
    What's in the resume? A ship that is blind in the radio range (electronic warfare is on, missiles are on the way). And a kilogram of 300 explosives flying into it. Nobody canceled the inertial guidance system, and the ship won't go anywhere in 7 (approximately) seconds.
    Experts, correct. :)
    1. -3
      21 November 2020 11: 10
      Quote: Monar
      What's in the resume? A ship that is blind in the radio range (electronic warfare is on, missiles are on the way). And a kilogram of 300 explosives flying into it. Nobody canceled the inertial guidance system, and the ship won't go anywhere in 7 (approximately) seconds.

      solving the problem of reloading speed (power) - will allow you to shoot many more targets in a short period. The hit rate is higher than automatic cannons / missiles.
      More barrels for a lot of girlfriends. While they eat a lot for quantity.
      In the end, everything will be integrated. It will not be soon only laser.
      Or maybe they will invent something else.
      1. 0
        21 November 2020 17: 06
        It's clear. Over the past 30 years, both power electronics and energy storage and lasers have made great strides.
        Burnout optics is good.
        Space. The very first goal. The deviation of the orbits is minimal. The goal is perfect.
        UAV. Also target for the laser. The same optics.
        RCC. There is an ambush. Low hitting range with a low flight profile (like the so-called, correct, specialists). And inertial guidance capabilities. Fast, not far away. You can of course burn it with a laser. If the mirror finish doesn't help, then "our answer to Chamberlain" has long been around. Tile. Well, such tiles. What Buran and the Shuttles were covering.
  13. 0
    21 November 2020 15: 28
    And last week the building of the Institute of Astrophysics was demolished in order to build a halabuda.
    The Institute developed lasers at one time
  14. -1
    22 November 2020 16: 40
    Why did the author decide that LaWS is closed?
    In January 2018, the Navy announced a $ 150 million contract with Lockheed Martin
    for the production of two more LaWS units to be delivered in 2020; one will be fitted
    to USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) while the other will be used for land-based testing.
    Further contract options could bring its value to $ 942.8 million.
    The second laser is already installed on the destroyer Burke.

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