The AHEL was delivered to the USAF by Lockheed Martin on October 6, 2021 after primarily underwent factory acceptance testing.
The AHEL is undergoing rapid testing by Lockheed to integrate, test, and demonstrate the system onboard the AC-130J Ghostrider fleet. Even though the system is undergoing operational and functional testing on the AC-130J, Rick Cordaro , vice president, Lockheed Martin, indicated that the technology was ready for fielding already.
The specifications of the AHEL are unknown, but it is speculated that its intensity is the same as that of the High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical-dazzler with Surveillance (HELIOS) currently being developed by Lockheed for the US Navy destroyers.
