IRIA News

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The British Army successfully destroyed flying drones with a high-energy laser mounted on an armored vehicle marking a significant development in energy-based countermeasures against the growing threat of drone attacks on modern battlefields.

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced that soldiers from the 16 Royal Artillery conducted successful tests of the laser weapon system against aerial targets at the Radnor Range in mid-Wales. The system was mounted on a Wolfhound armored vehicle, part of the army’s Tactical Support Vehicles (TSV) fleet. These trials follow an earlier test at the Porton Down firing range, where the laser weapon was first fired from a British Army combat vehicle.

This latest development is part of the MoD’s Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) demonstrator program, aimed at understanding, and implementing laser technology for operational use. Defense contractor Raytheon, a key player in the trials, confirmed that soldiers tracked and neutralized moving aerial targets, demonstrating the capability to counter drone threats effectively.

The high-energy laser weapon system, known as HELWS, is equipped with a 15-kilowatt infrared laser capable of “neutralizing” targets at distances greater than one kilometer. Unlike conventional weapons that rely on ammunition or missiles, laser weapons can continue firing as long as there is sufficient power, making them a cost-effective and sustainable solution.

“This is still an emerging technology, but the world has changed, and we are seeing more use of drones in the battlespace. This requires a more cost-effective solution to protect our troops,” said Stephen Waller, Directed Energy Weapons Team Leader for the MoD’s Defense Equipment & Support (DE&S) agency.

The increasing use of drones in military conflicts, as seen in Russia’s war against Ukraine, has highlighted the vulnerabilities of traditional armored vehicles and tanks against aerial threats. Armed forces worldwide are now racing to develop countermeasures, and energy weapons like lasers are becoming a viable solution.

“Having the capability to track and eliminate moving drones will give UK troops a better operational advantage, and these successful trials have demonstrated that we are well on our way to achieving this,” added Waller.

While the recent tests mark significant progress, the MoD clarified that the laser weapon system is currently a capability demonstrator. This phase is designed to gather insights into laser technology and explore its potential as a deployable capability.

An MoD spokesperson emphasized, “We will take the learnings of the project into account and assess the necessary steps to develop Laser Directed Energy Weapons for frontline use by the British Army in the future.”

Other branches of the UK military are also exploring laser technologies. The Royal Navy’s DragonFire program aims to equip the upcoming Type 26 frigates with laser systems by the early 2030s to defend against drones and other threats. Similarly, the Royal Air Force has tested laser self-protection systems for aircraft like the A400M Atlas transport, and there are plans to equip the future Tempest fighter with laser weaponry.

While laser weapons hold immense promise, they remain an emerging technology with challenges to overcome, such as power supply, operational integration, and environmental factors. Nevertheless, the successful trials signal that the British Army and its partners are making significant strides in addressing these hurdles.

The advent of laser weapons represents a paradigm shift in modern warfare. As the MoD refines this technology, it could revolutionize battlefield tactics, offering a sustainable and highly effective means of countering aerial threats.

The British Army’s successful testing of laser weapons marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of defense technology. With drones becoming a common threat in modern conflicts, the development of cost-effective and sustainable solutions like the HELWS is critical. Although still in its demonstrator phase, this technology has the potential to redefine the capabilities of the UK’s armed forces in the years to come.