The US Navy has reportedly deployed a HELIOS laser weapon system aboard a destroyer operating near Iran, marking a major technological step in the ongoing conflict.
Images released by US Central Command (CENTCOM) show the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system installed on a US Navy destroyer positioned off the Iranian coast.
According to reports citing sources involved in the operation, the system has already been used against Iranian drones during the current military campaign.
Earlier testing also demonstrated the weapon’s capability. In early February 2026, weeks before the war began, HELIOS reportedly destroyed four drones during a live test, according to reporting confirmed by US naval sources.