Lockheed Martin created the ATHENA fiber laser weapon. It is 30 kW in power and can kill unmanned aerial vessels as well as incoming rockets. It can also defend smaller ground vehicles, such as attack ships. According to the company's claims, the weapon can kill flying drones far away. Athena, unlike traditional air defences, can be carried anywhere. It is modular and smart, allowing power to be easily scaled.
The laser weapon, which the company makes available to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and improvised bombers, is low-value. The weapon is portable, lightweight, and can be deployed in the field to provide tactical advantages in combat. It uses a fiber-optic Cable to create a powerful beam.
The US Army, US Air Force, and US Air Force successfully tested this laser weapon at Fort Sill. The test was conducted in an environment similar to real-world threat levels and flight paths. A laser weapon system located a small drone in the environment and fired high-energy lasers at it to disarm it. As the drone flew over the test range, the government's command-and-control system followed it. US Air Force personnel also operated ATHENA. It shot down four flying drones in the test, and all four were destroyed. In flight, it also destroyed a military-type rocket.
According to the press release from the company, ATHENA could destroy small drones while in flight. The ATHENA can also shoot down incoming rockets, which is a great feature for the military. The company states that the laser will be scaled up to 60 KW. However, the information in the press release is not detailed. They are looking to mount the laser weapon on military helicopters.
Athena's weapon system has a modular, innovative design. The beam is created by combining a number of low-powered lasers into one powerful beam. The beam is formed by using fiber laser module that are coiled into a rope. Fiber laser modules consume 50% less electricity than traditional solid-state lasers. It can also be used for vaporizing metal. The laser's focal point is hot. It can cause the metal clouds to dissipate in fractions of seconds.
The ATHENA laser weapons are also based on the company’s Area Defense Anti-Munitions(ADAM) laser weapon systems. The system was created in Sunnyvale California and has proved to be very effective against small airborne threats. It is also a low-cost, field deployable laser weapon. The system is capable of attacking both small fixed- and rotary aircraft, as well as drones.
To address the US Air Force's needs, the ATHENA laser has been developed. According to the company the laser is a low price test bed for laser weaponry and that data from these tests will help refine the system. In addition to defeating drones, the laser system can also shoot down incoming artillery.