The US Navy has launched a $29.9 million program to develop one of the most powerful laser weapons ever designed for naval ships.
Known as SONGBOW, the system is intended to neutralize advanced threats such as drone swarms, cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles at light-speed engagement rates.
Central to the project is a 400-kilowatt laser, formed by combining multiple 50-kilowatt modules into a single, precision-directed beam, offering a substantial upgrade over current shipboard laser systems.
