Lockheed Martin confirms laser-powered interceptor DEIMOS demonstration success

A new US-directed energy or laser air defence interceptor system has achieved its “first light” milestone in development, Lockheed Martin announced in a press release on January 23.

“Lockheed Martin achieved first light from the Directed Energy Interceptor for Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense System (DEIMOS) system, which verifies that the laser’s optical performance parameters align with the system design parameters,” the release said, per The Eurasian Times.

Lockheed Martin explained in the release that the DEIMOS system is a rugged, tactical laser.

“The 50 kW-class laser weapon system brings another critical piece to help ensure the US Army has a layered air defence capability. DEIMOS has been tailored from our prior laser weapon successes to affordably meet the Army’s larger modernization strategy for air and missile defence,” the release said.

The DEIMOS first light demonstration was a crucial milestone along the path to helping the Army perform its mission to deliver a manoeuvrable laser system capable of negating unmanned aerial systems, rotary-wing aircraft and rockets, artillery and mortars, the release added.

Earlier, Lockheed Martin joined the project of Israeli defence technology company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to create a laser-based missile defence system dubbed Iron Beam, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

An operational laser model is expected to be deployed as an experiment on the Gaza Strip border in two to three years, the report said.

According to an agreement with Lockheed Martin, systems similar to Iron Beam will subsequently be created for the US market and a number of other countries, according to the newspaper.