The French Navy has successfully tested its new laser. The Helma-P system, mounted on a frigate, succeeded in destroying drones approaching the building in the Mediterranean.
Is this the beginning of a new era of warfare? Laser weapons are weapons that use a beam of light to damage or destroy a target. They have many advantages over conventional weapons, including surgical precision, a difficult source to locate and almost zero firing cost.
They can be used to neutralize drones, ignite objects remotely, alter optical sensors or even destroy means of communication. They could even be used to hit missiles and drones.
The French Navy is one of the armies at the forefront in this area. After testing the technology on land, she was recently pleased to have also successfully fired a laser at drones from a frigate. The system is called Helma-P (High Energy Laser with Multiple Applications – Power). It is developed jointly by Cilas and the French army.
From 12 to 14/06, aboard the FDA Forbin in the Mediterranean, the @DGA, the Navy and the CILAS company conducted a test campaign for the HELMA-P system, an anti-drone laser weapon. The integration of drones into operations is a major development in conflicts and naval combat. pic.twitter.com/1Wy4G9P4Ds
— National Navy (@MarineNationale) June 20, 2023
According to Benoist Roucher, head of development and sales at Cilas who spoke in The New FactoryFrench technology has done better than fulfill its objectives and is proving formidable for possible adversaries: “With our expertise in optics, we manage to converge the laser beam on the target with the diameter of a one euro coin. We managed to neutralize a drone 800 meters away in 1.5 seconds, and each time with 100% success.
Laser weapons have many advantages over conventional weapons:
- surgical precision. Laser shots can damage or destroy a target with pinpoint precision, reducing the risk of collateral damage.
- a source difficult to locate. Laser weapons do not require a physical projectile, making it difficult to locate the source of the shot.
- almost zero shooting cost. This weapon does not require ammunition, which considerably reduces the cost of its use. France info stressed that the laser had the best quality/price ratio against drones: “several tens of thousands of euros for a missile compared to barely a few euros for a laser shot”.
The French laser is still in development (it should be available in 2024), but it has the potential to revolutionize warfare. It could allow the armed forces to carry out more precise, more effective and less costly strikes.