First trial on British Army vehicle for high-powered laser weapon

For the first time scientists and engineers have successfully fired Raytheon’s High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) from a British Army combat vehicle. The lightweight, portable high-energy laser system is the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle to be fired in the UK.

The UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and industry have worked together to enable the development of this critical new capability, says the UK Ministry of defence (UK MoD).

This ground-breaking test, conducted at DSTL’s range in Porton Down, saw the laser weapon fired at full power to neutralise targets at distances in excess of 1km. The weapon was mounted on a British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle and represents a major leap forward in the UK MoD’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator program, designed to provide increased operational advantage on the battlefield.

This variant of the HELWS has been designed to defeat NATO class 1 drones whilst being easily compatible within existing air defence systems, including radar, command and control and other platforms.

“We have proven that the Raytheon high energy laser weapon system can track and engage targets whilst mounted on a vehicle,” said James Gray, chief executive and managing director of Raytheon UK. “The speed at which this capability was delivered is only possible due to the hard work of our British SME partners, coupled with the operationally proven technology developed by Raytheon.

“We now look forward to the British Army experimenting with the weapon over the coming months and proving that the technology is battlefield ready.”

The Wolfhound integration successfully fused Raytheon’s proven HELWS with UK intellectual property from Frazer Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge Pixel. The HELWS is already 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.

The next phase of testing will involve trials with Army personnel later this year, further evaluating the system’s capabilities and benefits in real-world scenarios. The low cost system is fully portable, low cost and easy to operate. The system can track multiple targets and engage faster than the speed of light.

“The joint working between Dstl, DE&S and industry has enabled rapid evolution of this laser demonstrator,” said Matt Cork, DSTL’s Program Lead. “The successful testing of this high-powered laser weapon marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to enhance the future operational capabilities of the British Army. This technology offers a precise, powerful and cost-effective means to defeat aerial threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces.”

The high energy laser operates with a command and control system and can be integrated with wider battle management radar and surveillance systems. The weapon can be mounted on various platforms to meet different operational needs, says the UK MoD.

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.