Navy Awards $3.8 Million Contract for Shipboard Laser Weapon

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $3.8 million contract to Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and defense contractor EO Solutions for a new high-energy laser weapon designed for maritime operations. This contract, a "Counter-Group 3 Marinized MOSA Laser for Navy" (Gr3MMLN) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), was issued in June through the Naval Surface Technology & Innovation Consortium. The consortium is a public-private partnership focused on developing advanced surface warfare capabilities by collaborating with academic institutions and non-traditional defense contractors. The Gr3MMLN OTA stems from a 2024 Navy solicitation for a prototype counter-drone laser weapon system known as the Adaptable Transportable Laser Weapon System (ATLAS). According to a U.S. defense official familiar with the project, ATLAS is envisioned as a containerized laser weapon capable of operating from the flight deck of a surface combatant. The system is expected to have a baseline output power ranging between 30 and 100 kilowatts and must be able to function in a "stressing naval environment for an extended period without degradation or damage," as detailed in a statement of need obtained by Laser Wars. While the initial statement of need indicated anticipated funding of $50 million for the broader ATLAS program, the $3.8 million Gr3MMLN OTA is primarily intended to support experimentation and testing with an existing laser system. Funding for this specific contract originated from a $5 million congressional addition to the Navy's fiscal year 2026 budget, allocated for an "enduring high energy laser." This initiative represents the latest development in the Navy's intensified effort to equip its fleet with laser weaponry, a strategic goal articulated as "a laser on every ship." The fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act further underscores this commitment by outlining plans for advanced laser systems. Huntington Ingalls Industries is the largest shipbuilder in the United States, specializing in naval warships and other complex vessels. EO Solutions, the defense contractor involved, is distinct from the Australian company Electro Optic Systems, which also develops laser weapons. The Naval Surface Technology & Innovation Consortium facilitates the rapid development and integration of new technologies into naval systems, bridging the gap between research and operational deployment.