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.

This is the first test of its kind in the UK, indicative of the UK’s rapid adoption of laser technology.

The test was conducted at Dstl’s range in Porton Down, while the laser weapon in question fired at full power whilst integrated onto the turret of 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 with existing air defence systems, including radar, command and control and other platforms.

The Wolfhound integration successfully fused the proven capability of Raytheon’s High-Energy Laser Weapon System with cutting-edge UK intellectual property from the companies Frazer Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge Pixel. 

According to Raytheon, the HELWS is certified for use in combat with US forces, with multiple systems being 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 staff to familiarise itself with the system and refine requirements for future capability. 

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