Royal Navy Set to Test the DragonFire Laser Weapon by 2019

A new laser weapon demonstrator being built for the UK Ministry of Defence has been unveiled today by the UK Dragonfire consortium at DSEI 2017 in London. Known as the Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) the weapon offers a range of different engagement solutions depending on the tactical scenario, these include tracking, deterring, dazzling the sensors of a potential threat, up to damaging or destroying it.

Apache Helicopter Fires High-Energy Laser Against a Ground Target at White Sands

A high-energy laser mounted on an Apache AH-64 attack helicopter acquired and hit an unmanned target during a recent firing test at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The test was conducted by Raytheon and the U.S. Army Apache Program Management Office, in collaboration with U.S. Special Operations Command.

An Israeli Radar to Guide an Asian Mobile Laser Weapon

RADA Electronic Industries announced today its RPS-42 radar system has been selected by a country in the Far East to be used in the development and evaluation of High-Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system. The announcement follows the the selection of these Israel's radar for similar programs in North America and Europe. The RPS-42 is a member of the Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar...

USAF Selects Boeing to deliver podded High Energy Laser

The Boeing Company has been awarded an estimated $90 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract for the development and delivery of an experimental laser pod. The contractor will provide research and development of high energy laser technologies through the next five years. The laser pod referred to in this award is likely to be the Self-Protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD). In...

Russia Plans to Deploy Anti-Satellite Airborne Laser Weapons

Russia is preparing to renew flight testing of a high-power flying laser designed to operate as an anti-satellite weapon, the Tass news agency reported. Based on the Ilyushin Il-76MD transport plane the airborne laser laboratory aircraft flew for its first test mission in August 19, 1981. Two aircraft were modified and equipped for the tests that ceased following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

MBDA Debuts High Power Laser Effector

MBDA Deutschand unveiled a new laser effector for land and naval applications at the ILA 2016 airshow in Berlin. In the naval sector, laser effector systems could feature in both on board ship and port protection. Photo: MBDA

Rheinmetall Conducts Sea Trials of a Naval Laser Gun

Rheinmetall and the German Bundeswehr have successfully tested a high-energy laser effector installed on a German warship operating on the high seas. For the test Rheinmetall mounted a 10-kilowatt high-energy laser (HEL) effector on a MLG 27 light naval gun mounted on the ship.

MUSIC Demonstrates Laser DIRCM Capability

The MUSIC family of Directed Infrared Countermeasure (DIRCM) systems was demonstrated recently at the annual, multinational EMBOW exercise. Elbit Systems is currently under contract to supply more than 110 DIRCM systems to over ten customers, for installation on 20 different fixed and rotary-wing platform types.

Elbit Systems to Supply More DIRCMs to European, Asian Customers

Elbit Systems Ltd. announced today that it recently was awarded two contracts for its MUSIC family of Directed Infra-Red Countermeasures (DIRCM) airborne multi-spectral self-protection systems, protecting aircraft and helicopters against air-to-air missiles (AAM) and infra-red guided Man Portable Air Defense missiles (MANPADS).

High-energy laser weapon burns through a running engine from a mile away

A 30-kilowatt electric fiber laser weapon system successfully disabled the engine of a pickup truck during a recent field test, demonstrating how such weapon grade lasers could be used to protect military forces and critical infrastructure.

Naval laser zaps surface, aerial target during operational demonstration in the Arabian SeaUS Navy

The US Navy announced the successfully deployment of the laser weapon system (LaWS) aboard USS Ponce (AFSB[I] 15) that operated with other naval vessel in the Arabian Gulf. During the operational demonstrations that took place from September to November 2014 LaWS intercepted surface targets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

US Navy deploys a laser weapon to the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea

The US Navy is operating high energy laser on the command ship leading the annual mine countermeasure exercise IMCMEX 2014. A revolutionary weapon system, the high power laser is designed to protect the vessel from attacks of Iranian fast boats.

US Navy to test powerful, mobile laser weapon against drones

A compact yet powerful laser weapon developed by Raytheon will soon be integrated on a HMMWV, to demonstrate its ability to defeat enemy drones, as part of the enhancement of current US Marine Corps ground-based air-defense capabilities.

US Navy evaluates laser weapons to augment ground-based air defense counter-UAS capability

The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) is evaluating the integration of laser weapons as an enhancement for the US Marine Corps’ existing low-altitude air-defense capability, which currently lacks reliable CounterUAS (C-UAS) and Counter Rocket, Artillery and Mortar (CRAM) capabilities. An innovative radar system from RADA is providing surveillance, detection and target acquisition for the laser weapon system