The Air Force has scrapped plans to integrate a high-energy laser weapon called the Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL) onto its AC-130J Ghostrider gunships due to technical challenges.
The laser system was intended to disable targets silently from the aircraft.
“Without the slightest bang, whoosh, thump, explosion or even aircraft engine hum, key targets are permanently disabled,” former AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Brad Webb said in 2017.
“The enemy has no communications, no escape vehicle, no electrical power and no retaliatory [intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance].”
While Lockheed Martin delivered the AHEL in 2021, ground and flight testing revealed it missed windows for integration onto the gunships.
As a result, the Air Force Special Operations Command has zeroed out funding for the project in future budgets and will refocus ground testing to improve operations and potentially hand the system off to other agencies.
However, the laser could still potentially be mounted on fighter jets in the future as a defensive system against missiles.
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