HII’s Mission Technologies division has been selected to develop an open architecture High-Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system for the US Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO).
HII will develop and test a HEL prototype to acquire, track and destroy Groups 1-3 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) used in multi-domain operations. The system will be capable of fixed-site defence and/or integration onto US Army vehicles.
In addition to a HEL prototype system, HII will provide the data for subsystems and key components. Aligned to the system’s Modular Open Systems Approach architecture, this data directly supports the US Army’s objectives for interoperability, affordability, scalability, supply chain resilience and rapid innovation. The weapon system will enable subsystems and software to be interchanged as the weapon evolves to meet national security demands.
The RCCTO awarded this Other Transaction agreement with the ultimate goal of transitioning to the US Army’s Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space. As part of this process, HII’s prototype HEL will undergo field testing to evaluate its safety and operational suitability. Upon successful demonstration, the system is expected to transition into low-rate initial production.
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