:

Navy/USMC

Navy Leaders See Battleship As Force Function For Lasers, Zumwalt As Testbed For Battleship

Tuesday, February 10th, 2026

SHARE:

Navy Leaders See Battleship As Force Function For Lasers, Zumwalt As Testbed For Battleship

Artist rendering of Lockheed Martin's HELIOS laser weapons system used on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. (Image: Lockheed Martin)

SAN DIEGO – Top Navy officers this week argued the Trump-class battleship may become a “forcing function” to bolster the demand signal for laser weapon development while the Zumwalt-class destroyer may become a testbed for future battleship weapons. The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) told reporters here on Tuesday that since conducting his Naval Postgraduate School thesis work on high energy lasers, he has been a big supporter of using megawatt-class power levers for ship and base defense while also…

Congress

White House Details ‘Concerns’ With Shipbuilding, Spaced-Based Interceptor Oversight In House’s NDAA

The White House has detailed “a number of concerns” with the newly-passed House version of the next defense policy bill, to include the legislation’s limits on procuring Navy ships built […]

Congress

House Narrowly Votes To Pass $1.15 Trillion FY ‘27 NDAA, Blueprint For Reconciliation 3.0

The House on Wednesday narrowly voted to pass its $1.15 trillion version of the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and a blueprint for a third reconciliation bill […]

Congress

Senate Appropriators Press On Supplemental’s Requests Beyond Iran Scope, Hegseth Urges Full Funding

Senate appropriators have pressed Pentagon leadership on the decision to include funds in the Iran war supplemental request for items beyond the current military operation, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth […]

Congress

House Republicans’ Blueprint For Reconciliation 3.0 Includes $60 Billion For Defense

House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a blueprint for a third reconciliation bill that includes $60 billion for defense, a figure slightly below the Trump administration’s request to cover Iran war […]