AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System

"LaWS" redirects here. Not to be confused with LAWs.
This article is about LaWS, the US Navy laser weapon system. For other laser weapon systems, see laser weapon. For the concept of a laser weapon system, see directed-energy weapon.

Laser Weapon System
The Laser Weapon System (LaWS) aboard USS Ponce.
TypeDirected-energy weapon
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2014–present
Used byUS Navy
Production history
Designed2010–14
ManufacturerKratos Defense & Security Solutions
No. built1
Laser Weapon System (LaWS) demonstration aboard USS Ponce

The AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System or XN-1 LaWS[1] is a laser weapon developed by the United States Navy. The weapon was installed on USS Ponce for field testing in 2014. In December 2014, the United States Navy reported that the LaWS system worked perfectly against low-end asymmetric threats, and that the commander of Ponce was authorized to use the system as a defensive weapon.[2] Due to various operational problems, LaWS was never put into mass production; it was replaced by the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance.

  1. ^ The US Navy’s Electric Weaponry - SAdefensejournal.com, 19 February 2016
  2. ^ Lendon, Brad (December 11, 2014). "Navy: New laser weapon works, ready for action". CNN. Retrieved December 12, 2014.