US to Equip Transport Aircraft with Laser Weapons Starting Next Year

[By Researcher Byeongjin Lee, Aviation Guidance Research Team 1, Defense Agency for Technology and Quality] The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has decided to equip transport aircraft with laser weapons.

The AC-130J Ghostrider, a large armed aircraft of the U.S. Air Force, is equipped with a 30mm side-firing chain gun, a 105mm cannon, AGM-176A Griffin laser-guided missiles, GBU-39/B GPS-guided missiles installed on the wings, and GBU-39B/B laser-guided small-diameter bombs. With the implementation of this project, the aircraft’s mission capability will be doubled by the addition of a 60kW high-power laser weapon. Unlike kinetic energy weapons, high-power laser weapons use silent and invisible lasers to covertly neutralize enemy aircraft, defense systems, and surveillance reconnaissance systems.

According to the FY 2021 budget documents, this project will develop laser, beam control, power, and thermal subsystem components through rapid prototype production efforts, followed by system integration led by the government’s overall project manager.

In December 2018, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract to develop the high-power laser weapon, with product delivery expected in early 2021. The total contract amount is estimated to be $19.3 million (approximately KRW 23.18895 billion). The laser system and other technical components are being developed at the U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Center.

Meanwhile, a Special Operations Command official stated that although there was mention of installing high-power laser weapons on the AC-130J armed aircraft before 2020, the integration of laser weapons on aircraft had been delayed due to issues related to size, weight, and power.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.