Major milestone speeds up UK's adoption of laser
technology
LONDON, July 22,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon UK, Defence
Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment and
Support (DE&S) have successfully tested Raytheon's High-Energy
Laser Weapon System (HELWS) integrated onto a British Army combat
vehicle, the first test of its kind in the UK.
This ground-breaking test, conducted at Dstl's range in Porton
Down, saw the laser weapon fired at full power whilst integrated
onto a British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle. The lightweight,
portable HELWS is the first laser weapon integrated on a land
vehicle to be fired in the UK.
This milestone marks a major leap forward in the UK Ministry of
Defence's Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator
programme. The increasing prevalence, proliferation and evolution
of drone warfare makes the rapid adoption of counter-UAS
technologies ever more important.
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."
The Wolfhound integration successfully fused the proven
capability of Raytheon's High-Energy Laser Weapon System with
cutting edge UK intellectual property from Frazer Nash, NP
Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge
Pixel.
"As Defence Secretary, I want to take the politics out of
national security so where there is important work begun under the
previous government, we will take it forward in the interest of
national security," said Secretary of State for Defence,
the Rt Hon John Healey MP. "That is why we are renewing important
partnerships with industry and continuing to push technological
boundaries. This will drive prosperity and create skilled jobs
across the country."
Team Hersa, which pairs Dstl's technical expertise with the best
acquisition skills from DE&S, is managing delivery of the
demonstrators and is responsible for preparing Defence for the
introduction of innovative weapons systems, ensuring the UK Armed
Forces can successfully exploit this potentially game changing
capability at pace.
"The joint working between Dstl, DE&S and industry has
enabled rapid evolution of this laser demonstrator. 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," said Matt
Cork, Dstl Programme Lead. "This technology offers a
precise, powerful and cost-effective means to defeat aerial
threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces."
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.
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.
About Raytheon UK
With over 2,000 employees in the UK, Raytheon UK is a major
supplier and systems integrator to the UK Ministry of Defence that
designs, develops and manufactures defence and space products. The
company is also a leading provider of training transformations
services and continues to invest in research and development,
supporting innovation and technological advances across the
country. Raytheon UK is part of RTX's Raytheon business.
About RTX
With more than 185,000 global employees, RTX pushes the limits
of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect
our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace,
Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation,
engineering integrated defense systems, and developing
next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help
global customers address their most critical challenges. The
company, with 2023 sales of $69
billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact
corporatepr@rtx.com.
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