US Navy opens $23M facility for laser weapons testing

The US Navy has opened a new laboratory at Point Mugu in California to test its state-of-the-art laser weapons.

Valued at $23 million, the Directed Energy Systems Integration Laboratory is a three-story facility built on 18,500 square feet along the Point Mugu Sea Range, which has 36,000 square miles of controlled air and sea space.

According to the US Navy, the facility will help the service keep abreast of the latest technological advancements, expanding the country’s testing capabilities.

The multimillion-dollar facility will allow the installation of directed energy systems on the roof and inside the building for trials and operational assessment.