Title page
Contents
Summary 2
Introduction 5
Issue for Congress 5
Earlier Coverage of EMRG and GLGP/HVP Programs 5
CRS Reports on Other DOD Efforts to Develop Lasers 5
Background 6
Strategic and Budgetary Context 6
Concern about Survivability of Navy Surface Ships 6
Depth of Magazine and Cost Exchange Ratio 6
Navy Shipboard Solid State Lasers (SSLs) in General 7
Overview 7
Earlier Developments 8
Development Roadmap 10
Current Navy SSL Development Efforts 11
SSL-TM 11
ODIN 15
SNLWS Increment 1 (HELIOS) 18
HELCAP 22
Layered Laser Defense (LLD) System 22
Navy Role in OUSD R&E High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI) 24
Directed Energy Components for High Energy Lasers 25
Remaining Development Challenges 25
Issues for Congress 25
Legislative Activity for FY2024 27
Summary of Congressional Action on FY2024 Funding 27
FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670/S.2226) 28
House 28
Senate 29
Conference 29
FY2024 DOD Appropriations Act (H.R. 4365/S. 2587) 29
House 29
Appendix. Potential Advantages, Limitations, Costs, and Cost-Effectiveness of Shipboard Lasers 30
Author Information 33
Disclaimer 34
Table 1. Summary of Congressional Action on FY2024 Funding 28
Figure 1. Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on USS Ponce 9
Figure 2. Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on USS Ponce 9
Figure 3. Navy Laser Weapon Development Approach 10
Figure 4. ONR Graphic of SSL-TM Laser System 12
Figure 5. Navy Graphic of SSL-TM Laser System 13
Figure 6. Reported SSL-TM Laser Being Transported 13
Figure 7. Reported SSL-TM Laser Being Transported 14
Figure 8. Reported SSL-TM Laser Being Transported 14
Figure 9. Reported ODIN System on USS Stockdale 15
Figure 10. Reported ODIN System at Naval Support Facility Dahlgren 16
Figure 11. HELIOS System on DDG-51 Destroyer 18
Figure 12. HELIOS System on DDG-51 Destroyer 19