French Navy tests HELMA-P laser system

In June 2023, the French Navy announced that the air defense frigate Forbin had successfully tested the HELMA-P laser system as part of the L2AD program. This system, developed by CILAS since 2017, is a directed energy weapon designed to neutralize class I aerial drones and other asymmetric threats quickly.

HELMA-P system's capabilities and deployment

The HELMA-P system, which combines a high-energy laser with detection and tracking devices, can alter the structure of hostile drones within seconds. It was notably used during the 2024 Paris Olympics and had already been tested successfully on land in 2020 and 2021.

Future integration and strategic goals

The French Ministry of the Armed Forces stated that the successful tests aboard the Forbin would lead to further development of the prototype, aiming for long-term integration into the Navy’s vessels. This aligns with the Navy’s goal of reducing the cost per shot to enhance its endurance and ability to wear down adversaries.

Charles de Gaulle tests anti-drone laser

Three years after the Forbin tests, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle tested an anti-drone laser during the La Fayette 26 mission, which concluded on July 11 after 166 days at sea. This was reported in the official French Navy magazine Cols Bleus.

Details of the test on Charles de Gaulle

From June 4 to 8, a team from the Centre d'expertise aérienne militaire and the ground-to-air defense squadron deployed the laser on the Charles de Gaulle’s flight deck. The system, which resembled the HELMA-P, took about four hours to install and was tested under operational conditions in the Gulf of Oman.

USS George H.W. Bush and the LOCUST system

The Charles de Gaulle is not the first aircraft carrier to use a laser system. Before it, the USS George H.W. Bush tested LOCUST, a directed energy weapon developed by Aerovironment and Blue Halo. This system, which operated from a container on the flight deck, was tested in October 2025 and later used in the Gulf of Oman.