U.S.A.F. to Test High Energy Laser on AC-130J Gunship

Lockheed Martin completed factory acceptance testing for the Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL), in preparation for U.S. military’s tests.

The company delivered the AHEL subsystem for integration with other systems in preparation for ground testing and ultimately flight testing aboard the AC-130J aircraft. The gunship, which is based on the C-130J, is used for close air support and air interdiction in support of troops on the ground.

Lockheed Martin won a contract for integration, test and demonstration of the weapon on the AC-130J aircraft in January 2019. In July the following year, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division awarded the company $12 million for technical services, integration, test, and demonstration for the AHEL system.

Special Operations Command wants to test a 60-kilowatt, solid-state laser on an AC-130 gunship by fiscal year 2022. It is interested in firing the laser at targets on the ground. The futuristic weapon would be added to the AC-130J’s arsenal of weapons, which include 30mm and 105mm cannon, precision-guided bombs and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.