General Atomics is pushing forward with several brand-new innovations shown at Sea Air Space 2025, including, for the very first time, a display of a new podded air-to-air laser system on their MQ-9B platform.A brand-new airborne laser pod, seen in information at Sea Air Space, is being pitched as a solution for fleet defense against one-way attack drones.
The ability is separate from previous efforts by the Department of Defense to put lasers on aircraft.The new laser belongs to the General Atomics Laser Weapon Systems portfolio, centering around the scalable High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapon System.
The laser is in the 25kW class and scalable to 300kW in both pulsed and constant wave systems, capable of running in all environments.The systems large optical aperture and effective cooling uses significant decreases in size and weight to fit air, land and sea-based platforms.
Basic ATOMICSThe General Atomics booth at Sea Air Space included a display of an MQ-9 with an underwing laser pod shooting at a number of Shahed style one-way attack drones approaching a surface area warship.
The pod holds a 25kW dispersed gain laser with a large ram air consumption for cooling, alongside an ultra-high power density battery system.The airborne laser principle utilizes dispersed gain technology to make it possible for air-borne operations with tight size, weight, and power (SWaP) restraints.
Distributed gain enables efficient cooling and beam generation that can deal with the requirements of flight and restraints that an airplane positions to onboard systems.A closeup of the underwing laser featured at General Atomics cubicle at Sea Air Space.
Note the large intake behind the aperture on the underside of the pod.
Photo Carter JohnstonAn airborne laser is not brand-new to the General Atomics laser portfolio.
Advancement of an undefined airborne laser go back a number of years.
Given that 2021, the company has been pitching its laser weapons as effective and little sufficient to fit air-borne platforms.ABreaking Defenseinterview with then-vice president for laser and electro-optic (LEO) systems Michael Perryoutlined the business intents for its laser weapons portfolio, pointing out that the company could put lasers on aircraftwith plans to do so in coming years.A General Atomics news release from 2024 functions a various underwing pod onboard a U.S.
Air Force F-15C Eagle General Atomics press releaseIn 2025, the podded laser idea is being given the MQ-9 family.
General Atomics has experience with supporting narrow laser beams for its UAS platforms and has shown its ability with the Laser Airborne Communication (LAC)-12 Terminal.
LAC-12 is able to transmit and receive laser-delivered communications over fars away with an effective test in between 2 airplane completed in 2022.
A previous cancelled effort, theSelf-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) program, had Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman as prime professionals.
SHiELD wanted to establish and field an airborne laser demonstrator for 4th generation aircraft like the F-16 and F-15.
It was cancelled in 2024 with no flight tests.
The General Atomics effort shown at Sea Air Space 2025 is unassociated to the SHiELD program.The General Atomics display stresses the function of an airborne laser in fleet defense, for a particular application in counter-drone missions.
Picture Carter JohnstonTop Photo: MQ-9B fitted with Airborne Laser General AtomicsSource: Naval News