Gulf of Aden hosts USN laser demonstration
USS Portland conducted a high-energy laser weapon system demonstration on 14 December in the Gulf of Aden by successfully engaging a training target. (Photo: USN/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devin Kates)
USS Portland successfully test-fired the LWSD Mark 2 MOD 0 laser weapon on 14 December.
The USN amphibious transport dock ship USS Portland conducted a high-energy laser weapon system demonstration on a static surface training target on 14 December.
The Solid State Laser Weapons System Demonstrator (LWSD) Mark 2 MOD 0 test took place while Portland was sailing in the Gulf of Aden.
During the demonstration, the laser weapon aboard Portland successfully engaged the training target, the USN 5th Fleet announced in a 15 December press release.
Portland previously tested the LWSD in May 2020 when it successfully disabled an sUAS in the Pacific Ocean.
The Office of Naval Research in 2018 selected Portland to host the laser weapon technology, which the USN considers as the next-generation capability to the 30kW Laser Weapon System (LaWS) that was tested for three years by USS Ponce (an amphibious transport dock ship, now retired) in the Middle East.
Portland is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group that includes the amphibious assault ship USS Essex, the dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor and embarked Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks]()
Shoreline vulnerability drives Gulf interest in USV networks
Ukraine’s combat-proven Magura uncrewed surface vessel is attracting Gulf state interest as the Iran war exposes gaps in layered maritime air defence, raising questions about whether low-cost attritable systems can gain a foothold in a procurement culture historically drawn to high-end Western platforms.
-
![Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win]()
Sweden swayed by speed to capability in French frigate win
Naval Group has secured a contract to supply four Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention frigates to the Royal Swedish Navy, extending the French naval industry’s reach into Northern Europe and showing why speed to capability has become the defining criterion in today’s defence procurement contests.
-
![SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations]()
SOF Week 2026: US NSW explores 3D-printed USVs for forward-deployed operations
US Naval Special Warfare Command is assessing the feasibility of rapidly producing expendable mid-sized USVs in theatre to support SOF and maritime security missions.
-
![SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system]()
SOF Week 2026: MARSOC selects upgraded Shark Marine dive navigation system
MARSOC is procuring the Shark Marine Dive Tablet 2 to address a longstanding combat diver navigation capability gap, improving underwater positioning, situational awareness and integration with existing diver propulsion vehicles.
