28th September 2023 UK to deploy its first military laser A high-energy laser weapon developed by Raytheon is now operationally ready and will be integrated onto the UK's Wolfhound military vehicle from next month.
Raytheon UK is set to receive its first high-energy laser weapon system to be tested and integrated in the United Kingdom, marking a significant advancement in the understanding of how such systems can be fielded. Raytheon UK is the British unit of RTX's Raytheon business. Designed to stop aerial threats, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), this 15-kilowatt laser is the latest development in the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) Land Demonstrator programme. Raytheon UK was contracted in 2021 to develop and install its laser system on the Wolfhound armoured vehicle. "The arrival of this transformative technology is an important milestone in our collaboration with the MoD on using directed energy to address a variety of threats, from drones and UAVs to more complex missile systems," said Julie Finlayson-Odell, managing director of weapons and sensors at Raytheon UK. "This system is a culmination of decades of investment, research and innovation and its arrival reflects our continued commitment to help fulfil a key strategic objective of the UK's Integrated Review, which is to understand how directed energy weapons can safely and effectively operate alongside other elements of the UK's armed forces."
The laser weapon system has successfully performed in multiple field tests, including in difficult weather conditions with extreme heat, cold, rain, sleet and snow. During four days of live-fire exercises earlier this year in the United States, it successfully acquired, tracked, targeted, and destroyed dozens of drone targets in short-range attack, swarm attack, and long-range threat scenarios. The system is compact, portable, can be installed on a variety of platforms, and easily connects to other air defence systems. With deep, rechargeable magazine and minimal logistics, it provides an affordable and viable option to protect military and critical infrastructure, and rapidly defeat threats. It offers a nearly infinite number of shots and precision accuracy with very low collateral damage, giving it considerable advantages over traditional munitions. Raytheon UK is building on the success of its U.S. investment, where a total of eight high-energy laser weapons have now been delivered to the U.S. military, defeating more than 400 targets over 25,000 operational hours. In addition to the 15-kilowatt version, the company has also developed a 50-kilowatt system. Both can detect and destroy targets "beyond visual range", according to their official specifications, and the larger of the two can recharge in 120 seconds, compared with 180 seconds for its smaller counterpart. The delivery of this first system to the UK comes as Raytheon UK officially opens its new, advanced laser integration centre in Livingston, Scotland. This centre, first announced in July 2022, focuses on the testing, fielding, and maintenance of Raytheon's defensive laser weapons and is a regional hub established to ensure that laser weapons can be quickly fielded, maintained, and repaired.
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