US Navy loads up on anti-drone laser system (news).

The U.S. Navy recently installed its first Optical Dazzling Interdictor: Navy (ODIN), a laser weapon system that allows a ship to counter unmanned aerial systems.

The first system was installed on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 105), during her recently completed Dry-Docking.

ODIN’s development, testing and production was done by Navy subject matter experts at Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in support of Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems. Their work on the laser weapon system known as LaWS, positioned them to be designated as the design and production agent for ODIN.

During his recent visit on USS Dewey, Mr. James F. Geurts, assistant secretary of the Navy for research development stated, “This is a great example of our organic talent at the warfare centers all working together with ship’s company to deliver a system which will provide game-changing capability. Bravo Zulu to the entire ODIN team on being mission-focused and delivering lethal capability to the warfighter.”

Going from an approved idea to installation in two and a half years, ODIN’s install on Dewey will be the first operational employment of the stand-alone system that functions as a dazzler. Drone production and employment has increased significantly, and ODIN was developed to counter these threats.

Within the next couple of years, the ODIN program will have all units operational within the fleet.