Fight demonstrations are scheduled to take place in the summer or fall of 2023, but it remains uncertain whether this development will evolve into a formal program of record.

In Washington, the Air Force Special Operations Command is preparing to test an airborne laser system on an AC-130J gunship in 2023, a year later than originally planned.

Lockheed Martin’s Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL) will undergo a flight demonstration aboard an AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft, starting in the summer of 2023 and continuing through the fall, according to Lt. Col. Becky Heyse, a spokesperson for AFSOC, in response to inquiries from defense reporters.

Heyse stated, “The results of the testing will determine future operational usage,” and added, “At this time, there is no concept of operation/employment developed for the high energy laser.”

Lockheed had delivered the 60-watt laser to AFSOC in October 2021, following the successful completion of factory acceptance testing. Initially, flight demonstrations were planned for 2022.

Lockheed is still collaborating with AFSOC to integrate the AHEL laser with other subsystems, such as thermal, power management, and beam control, while conducting ground testing, as per a statement from a Lockheed spokesperson. The company is actively supporting all AHEL program milestones, including Full Laser Characterization, Full System Integration & High Power Checkout, and Full System Test in support of a planned flight test in FY23.

Mounting a directed energy weapon on an AC-130J gunship has been a long-standing goal for AFSOC for nearly a decade. The AC-130J Ghostrider already possesses formidable firepower, equipped with a precision strike package that includes 30mm and 105mm cannons, as well as the capability to launch precision-guided munitions like the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb, AGM-114 Hellfire missile, and AGM-176 Griffin. However, a high-energy laser would offer AFSOC the ability to shoot down missiles or clandestinely disable enemy electronics, as the laser’s beam would be invisible to the naked eye.

Former AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold expressed enthusiasm for laser weapons in 2015, stating that he anticipated the technology would be available “by the close of this decade.” He emphasized that the technology was not science fiction and had the necessary space, weight, and power requirements.

Lockheed was awarded a contract in January 2019 to integrate the AHEL with the AC-130. Nevertheless, the ultimate fate of the program remains uncertain.

In FY23, the U.S. Special Operations Command requested approximately $16 million to continue laser integration on the AC-130J, representing an increase of approximately $4 million from FY22 levels due to the planned start of flight testing. This funding will also cover ground testing and aircraft fit checks prior to the first flight.

After the final flight demonstration, it will be up to AFSOC to decide whether to secure the necessary funding to transition the program from technology development into a program of record. Technical considerations, such as assessing whether the size, weight, and power demands of the laser align with other potential capability upgrades, will also play a role in the decision-making process.

Another potential challenge is that Lockheed’s AHEL was designed for the Block 20 version of the AC-130J. Currently, all AC-130J Block 20s are undergoing modification to become Block 30s, and the time and cost required to modify the laser design remain uncertain.