The French Navy has successfully tested the latest HELMA-P laser system against unmanned aerial vehicles, installing it aboard the flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Gulf of Oman. The tests confirmed the high accuracy and effectiveness of directed-energy weapons in real maritime conditions.
Features and Characteristics of the HELMA-P Laser System
The HELMA-P system is designed to neutralize enemy drones by destroying their structure in seconds using a directed beam. The special shipboard turret includes modern cameras, a lidar, a powerful laser beam emitter, an autonomous cooling system, and a control panel. Installing this complex equipment aboard the aircraft carrier took only about four hours.
The introduction of such systems is driven by the military department's goal to significantly reduce the cost per shot when repelling aerial threats. Developers and military personnel emphasize the economic and operational benefits of transitioning to laser weapons compared to traditional surface-to-air missiles.
Testing Stages and Technology Development in France
The first major land-based tests of the HELMA-P system took place back in 2020 and 2021, where the complex demonstrated its basic capabilities. Later, developers moved the tests to a maritime platform, testing the system aboard the frigate Forbin. Three years later, the laser weapon made its way to the main ship of the French fleet.
The current tests on the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier verified the laser's performance under unprecedented operational conditions in the open sea. The data obtained confirmed the reliability and effectiveness of the complex in protecting large combat ships from modern aerial threats.
Prospects for Combat Application of Laser Systems
The development of directed energy technologies is becoming a key trend in leading global armies, including the US and France. Previously, the US military conducted its own tests of mobile laser systems on light vehicles during exercises in Texas. Further integration of lasers into fleet and ground force combat formations will open new opportunities for air defense.
