It would mean US ships not having to spend time reloading guns and missiles in the face of a Chinese onslaught.

Lasers could be used defensively to allow US ships to continue launching attack missiles.

The commanding officer of the USS Portland has described the weapon as “redefining war at sea for the Navy.”

US officials believe the laser could be used against drone boats carrying explosives and deployed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

The Gulf of Aden sits along the southern coast of  Yemen, which has been at war since Iranian-backed Houthi rebels seized its capital, Sanaa, in 2014.

A Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict the following year and the stalemate has killed an estimated 110,000 people.
The Houthis have deployed drone boats, which can be piloted remotely and sent up to a target before detonating.
Iran is suspected of helping build the drone boats and has denied involvement.