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Reuters

Fact Check: Video artificially generated from photo does not show Navy laser weapon deployment

An AI-generated video, based on an official photograph, showing the U.S. Navy testing a directed energy weapon from a naval ship has been shared on social media as if the footage is real. A Navy spokesperson said it has not released any videos showing the testing of the laser, which has not been permanently deployed on ships. The caption, opens new tab of one of the social media posts sharing the five-second clip states: 'NEW: The US Navy released a new video of USS Preble (DDG-88) firing her HELIOS laser weapon.' The caption also said the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, opens new tab is the first Navy vessel to be equipped with HELIOS. HELIOS, or high energy laser with integrated optical-dazzler and surveillance, is a type of directed energy weapon manufactured by Lockheed Martin and delivered, opens new tab to the U.S. Navy in 2022. The defense contractor said the naval laser weapon is the 'first tactically integrated laser weapon system, with both dazzle and destroy, opens new tab capability, fielded to the U.S. Department of Defense.' But the video shared on social media is an AI creation based on a photo. The video was first posted, opens new tab online on February 3 by an X account whose bio says ' Exploring tech / AI / content creation, opens new tab.' The account : 'Note, this vid is AI video interpretation of the laser in action (based on the still image).' The original image can be found, opens new tab in the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E)'s annual report, opens new tab for the fiscal year 2024 (page 385). The DOT&E advises the secretary of defense on operational and live fire tests, and the evaluation of Pentagon systems. It said USS Preble successfully fired its HELIOS system against an aerial drone during a test exercise at an unspecified date and location (page 388). A Navy spokesperson told Reuters in an email that the image was taken during a test in late summer 2023, adding, 'the U.S. Navy has not released any videos of High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system demonstration on USS Preble (DDG 88).' The weapon is still being tested and evaluated and has not been permanently deployed on ships, the spokesperson added. No other photos of HELIOS are available in the DOT&E annual report, and there is no evidence of videos showing the system released by the DOT&E or the Department of Defense. A spokesperson for DOT&E did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reuters previously addressed false narratives linking wildfires to directed energy weapons. VERDICT False. The video is AI-generated, based on an official photo, and does not show a U.S. Navy laser weapon being deployed.