From 2/5/25 USA Today article. Sounds like EVE is Real.
"What is the HELIOS weapon?
The High Energy Laser and Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) is a weapon system developed by Lockheed Martin capable of engaging targets at the speed of light. The system can destroy drones, watercraft and missiles by either melting or overheating them. The weapon not only can use a high-energy laser to destroy targets, but is designed to disrupt intelligence-gathering efforts and reconnaissance sensors from adversaries."
Strictly speaking it doesnât. Radar, processing to identify nature of target ( donât want to shoot down friendlies ), and tracking all need to occur. FastâŚbut not speed of light.