FACT CHECK: Video Of Ship Firing Laser Weapon Is AI, Based On Real Image

A video shared on X claims to show the USS Preble firing a laser weapon.

The US Navy released a clip of the USS Preble firing a HELIOS laser weapon.

The High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance will be used primarily to counter UAV.pic.twitter.com/5ZhzNMKukE

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) February 3, 2025

Verdict: Misleading

The video is artificial intelligence. The image it is based on, though, is real.

Fact Check:

Social media users are claiming a video shows the USS Preble firing a laser weapon. One user wrote, “The US Navy released a clip of the USS Preble firing a HELIOS laser weapon. The High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-Dazzler and Surveillance will be used primarily to counter UAV.”

This claim is misleading. Through a keyword search, Check Your Fact found that the video was posted by an account that admitted it was artificial intelligence.

“Note, this vid is AI video interpretation of the laser in action (based on the still image),” the account tweeted.

The video is based on an actual image of the USS Preble firing a Helios laser weapon. The image went viral after an open-source intelligence account posted the image on X. (RELATED: Claim That Trump Plans To Invalidate Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program Is Satire)

The US Navy released a new photo of USS Preble (DDG-88) firing her HELIOS laser weapon. pic.twitter.com/oL4rMsA4Xu

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 3, 2025

“The US Navy released a new photo of USS Preble (DDG-88) firing her HELIOS laser weapon,” the account tweeted. The image can be found in this report.

The HELIOS laser weapon was developed by Lockheed Martin and is meant to be a “multi-mission” weapons system.