Lockheed's ATHENA disables truck engine

Lockheed Martin's Advanced Test High Energy Asset (ATHENA) laser weapon disabled the engine of a small truck in a recent field test, the company said on 3 March 2015.

According to the company, the ground-based, 30kW fibre laser weapon burned through the engine manifold in seconds from over a mile away. The truck was set on a platform with its drive train and engine running.

Keoki Jackson, chief technology officer, Lockheed Martin, said: 'We are investing in every component of the system – from the optics and beam control to the laser itself – to drive size, weight and power efficiencies. This test represents the next step to providing lightweight and rugged laser weapon systems for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks.'

The demonstration marked the first field testing of an integrated, 30kW, single-mode fibre laser weapon prototype. The weapon uses spectral beam combining to form a single powerful beam out of multiple fibre laser modules. This beam provides higher lethality and efficiency than multiple individual 10kW lasers.

ATHENA is based on Lockheed Martin's Area Defense Anti-Munitions (ADAM) laser weapon system, which has undergone demonstrations against small sea-based and airborne targets.