The High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS), is a Counter-RAM system under development that will use a powerful (150kW) laser to shoot down missiles, rockets, and artillery shells. The initial system will be demonstrated from a static ground based installation, but in order to eventually be integrated on an aircraft, design requirements are maximum weight of 750 kg (1,650 lb) and maximum envelope of 2 cubic meters (70.6 cubic feet). Development is being funded by The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). For the first few years of the program General Atomics Photonics division was the prime contractor. The design combined the high energy density of a solid-state laser with the thermal management of a liquid laser. Dubbed the "HEL weapon", the initial prototype demonstrated firing a mild one kilowatt (kW) beam. Phase 3 of the program in 2007 demonstrated 15kW power in a laboratory setting, and at the end of 2008 under the General Atomics bid, Lockheed Martin was selected as the weapon system integrator.

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