Raytheon UK has successfully completed a live-fire test of its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) in cooperation with the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S).
Conducted at Dstl’s range in Porton Down, the test saw the laser weapon fired at full power whilst integrated onto a British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle. The system was able to both track and engage targets. Raytheon reports that its lightweight, portable HELWS is the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle to be fired in the UK, marking progress in the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon Demonstrator programme.
Raytheon’s HELWS is certified for use in combat with US forces, with multiple systems now in service. The system has logged more than 40,000 testing hours and downed more than 400 targets.
This variant of the HELWS has been designed to defeat NATO class 1 drones whilst being compatible within existing air defence systems, including radar, command and control and other platforms. The Wolfhound integration was achieved in cooperation between Raytheon UK and Frazer Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge Pixel.
Team Hersa, which pairs Dstl’s technical expertise with acquisition skills from DE&S, is managing delivery of the demonstrators and is responsible for preparing the Ministry of Defence for the introduction of innovative weapons systems.
The next phase of testing for the UK will allow British Army soldiers to familiarise themselves with the system and refine requirements for future capability.
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Image: Created by combining infrared and regular footage (Raytheon)
