In a recent U.S. Army operational assessment at White Sands
Missile Range, the 50kW-class high energy laser weapon demonstrated
repeatable counter-mortar capability
LAS
CRUCES, N.M., May 16, 2022
/PRNewswire/ -- In four weeks of continuous live-fire exercises, an
industry team led by Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon
Technologies (NYSE: RTX) business, and Kord, a wholly owned
subsidiary of KBR, defeated multiple 60mm mortar rounds with a
50kW-class high energy laser integrated on a Stryker combat
vehicle.
The directed energy weapon system — part of the U.S. Army's
Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD —
acquired, tracked, targeted and defeated multiple mortars and
successfully accomplished multiple tests simulating real-world
scenarios.
Continuing to put the DE M-SHORAD system to the test, the recent
operational assessment at White Sands Missile Range also included
defeating several small, medium and large drones.
"Soldiers in the field face increasingly complex threats, and
our combat-proven sensors, software, and lasers are ready to give
them a new level of protection," said Annabel Flores, president of Electronic Warfare
Systems for Raytheon Intelligence & Space. "The Army gave us
our toughest challenge yet — countering rockets, artillery and
mortars — and we took an essential step on the path to providing
the maneuverable, short range air defense Soldiers need."
The DE M-SHORAD effort is aimed at protecting soldiers against
various aerial threats, including unmanned aircraft systems,
rotary-wing aircraft, rockets, artillery and mortars. Kord serves
as the primary integrator of the system on the Stryker combat
vehicle, while Raytheon Intelligence & Space provides the
50kW-class high energy laser weapon module, a specialized radar
acquisition system, a beam control system and targeting sensor.
"This team once again showed that the HEL system is
fully-integrated and ready to provide protection against complex
threats," said Byron Bright,
President of KBR Government Solutions. "With an effectively
infinite magazine and near-zero cost per shot, HEL is now the
proven answer to asymmetric threats like drones and mortars."
The joint industry team, which includes Rocky Research for power
and thermal management, General Dynamics Land Systems for the
Stryker platform, and Applied Technology Associates for additional
sensors, is preparing to deliver four DE M-SHORAD units to Army
Brigade Combat Teams in 2022.
RI&S' high energy laser weapon systems, built in
McKinney, Texas, works on land, in
the air and at sea, providing 360-degree coverage that can protect
bases, airports, stadiums and other high-value military or civilian
assets. Open architecture, scalable power, and ruggedized design
adapts to the demands of the mission. HEL weapons can be used as
standalone systems or rapidly installed on a variety of platforms.
Major suppliers for the system are based in Huntsville, Alabama; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; East Granby, Connecticut; and Los Angeles, California.
Additional information and photos can be found here.
Media Contact:
Michael
Dorff
michael.l.dorff@raytheon.com
About Raytheon Intelligence & Space
Raytheon
Intelligence & Space, a Raytheon Technologies business,
delivers the disruptive technologies our customers need to succeed
in any domain, against any challenge. A developer of advanced
sensors, cyber services and software solutions, Raytheon
Intelligence & Space provides a decisive advantage to civil,
military and commercial customers around the world.
About Raytheon Technologies
Raytheon Technologies
Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides
advanced systems and services for commercial, military and
government customers worldwide. With four industry-leading
businesses ― Collins Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney,
Raytheon Intelligence & Space and Raytheon Missiles &
Defense ― the company delivers solutions that push the boundaries
in avionics, cybersecurity, directed energy, electric propulsion,
hypersonics, and quantum physics. The company, formed in 2020
through the combination of Raytheon Company and the United
Technologies Corporation aerospace businesses, is headquartered
in Waltham, Massachusetts.
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SOURCE Raytheon Technologies