Raytheon UK Unveils Cutting-Edge Laser Defense Against Drones for UK Armed Forces
London, Sept. 15, 2021 – Raytheon UK has secured a demonstrator contract to supply a High-Energy Laser Weapon System, or HELWS, to the UK Ministry of Defence. Raytheon UK will provide the MOD’s high-energy laser demonstrator to showcase the use of directed energy weapons technology aimed at safeguarding the UK armed forces from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the contemporary battlefield.
“High-energy lasers are transitioning from research laboratories to active deployment,” stated Alex Rose-Parfitt, engineering director at Raytheon UK. “We are collaborating with the MOD to fast-track this innovative technology and make it accessible to the UK military. This demonstrator program will illustrate how high-energy laser weapons can effectively defend soldiers against UAV threats.”
A high-energy laser demonstrator will be fitted by the Raytheon UK team onto one of the MOD’s Wolfhound land vehicles for an extensive user experimentation phase. This experimentation offers a chance to evaluate how HELWS could bolster UK capabilities and enhance understanding in high-energy laser weaponry, thus supporting the nation’s aspirations to be an innovative leader in science and technology.
HELWS, a versatile counter-UAV solution, integrates an electro-optical/infrared sensor that accurately targets highly agile threats with remarkable precision and ease. This system can be mounted on various platforms and has been deployed in several practical environments; it can also be harmonized with many contemporary air defense systems, delivering a powerful layered defense capability as required.
“We are committing £6.6 billion towards research and development in Defence over the next four years, reaffirming our pledge to equip the Armed Forces with cutting-edge capabilities,” remarked Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin. “Directed Energy Weapons are a crucial component of our future equipment endeavors, and we aim to become a global frontrunner in the research, manufacture, and implementation of this next-generation technology.”
As the program advances, Raytheon UK will promote new capabilities and expertise within the UK supply chain, positioning the nation at the vanguard of this innovative technology. The Raytheon UK team is working in conjunction with other British firms, including Frazer Nash, NP Aerospace, and Lumoptica, to introduce high-energy laser technology to the British Army.
This contract is part of a broader framework initiated by the UK Ministry of Defence to maintain a strategic edge through science and technology.
