Sailors in the U.S. Navy are set to receive certified training for operating and maintaining the fleet’s most prevalent directed energy system.

Sailors will receive training at Directed Energy Systems Integration Laboratory (DESIL) in California. DESIL now offers courses on operating and maintaining the Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN).

Reports have revealed that the Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN) is a laser-based defense system developed for the United States Navy to protect warships from drones and other surveillance threats. Rather than destroying a target with missiles or bullets, ODIN uses a focused laser beam to interfere with or disable optical equipment such as cameras, infrared sensors, and targeting systems.

ODIN’s dazzling laser is designed to blind the sensors of unmanned aerial systems. The system also offers powerful intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance features, such as cameras and a telescope, allowing operators to see farther and capture footage of adversaries in high detail and resolution, as per reports.

Known as a soft-kill weapon, the technology neutralizes threats without physically exploding or destroying them. The approach is useful against modern drone threats, especially small surveillance drones that are difficult and expensive to engage with traditional missiles.

One major advantage of ODIN is its low operating cost. Conventional missile defenses can be expensive and limited in ammunition, while laser systems can continue operating as long as the ship has sufficient electrical power. ODIN also provides rapid response capability and can engage targets almost instantly.

That technology is only effective in the hands of sailors trained to operate and maintain it, which is where the schoolhouse comes in, according to Lawrence Averion, directed energy branch manager.

“It’s about making sure the warfighters are ready to use the systems, and giving them the confidence that they can actually meet the mission,” Averion said.

While weapon system instruction for fleet personnel normally falls under Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC), DESIL’s in-house directed energy subject matter experts (SMEs), equipment and infrastructure make it uniquely equipped to serve as the ODIN schoolhouse, according to Davidson Sim, directed energy sustainment systems engineer.

“Our facility has the SMEs — and subsequently the trainers — and a resident ODIN system,” said Davidson Sim, directed energy sustainment systems engineer. “And we have access to a test range, allowing us to actually emit and use the laser in a training environment.”

The directed energy team has started promoting the ODIN courses to ships equipped with that system. They also plan to bring in sailors from USS Preble (DDG 88), which is outfitted with a different directed energy weapon — the High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance system, known as HELIOS.

“Our training is tailorable,” Sim said. “It’s ODIN training, but really it’s directed energy training.”