US Air Force receives combat-ready high-energy laser weapon

News, US June 20, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. defense firm Raytheon Technologies delivered the fourth operational laser weapon system “H4” to the United States Air Force, marking the eighth such system delivered to the Department of Defense.

According to the Raytheon statement, the company in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, successfully tested the “Air Force’s first palletized high-energy laser weapon” last fall during the four-day live-fire exercises at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The system can destroy small unmanned aerial targets, including drones. The U.S. Air Force seeks to leverage directed-energy weapons to counter asymmetrical threats.

The statement highlighted that “The new palletized laser weapon was the first 10-kilowatt laser built to U.S. military specifications in a stand-alone configuration that can be moved and mounted anywhere it’s needed.”

The palletized laser weapon aims to protect people and assets against short-range aerial threats. The system was approved under the Air Force’s Test and Assessment plan. “This included multiple days of live-fire exercises to acquire, target, track and destroy drone targets in short-range attack, swarm attack, and long-range threat scenarios,” the company statement read.

Senior director of High-Energy Lasers at Raytheon Technologies, Michael Hofle said, “Anywhere the Air Force sees a threat from drones, they now have four proven laser weapons that can be deployed to stop asymmetrical threats.”

Hofle further added that “Whether it’s on a fixed location, a flatbed or even a pickup, these laser weapons are compact, rugged and ready to go. That’s why we’re proud to support the Air Force’s effort to provide this new tech to the personnel who need it in the field, who can trust and be confident in the system’s capabilities.”

*^{Raytheon Technologies delivers the fourth combat-ready laser weapon to U.S. Air Force. (Image Credit: Raytheon Technologies)}*

The laser weapon system can be fitted into a pickup truck and comprises a high-energy laser weapon module, a long-range EO/IR sensor that serves as the beam director, thermal control, internal electrical power, and targeting software. All of the equipment are packaged together for use in the toughest combat environments.

The H4 system can be operated with a laptop as well as a “video game-style controller”. According to Raytheon, the system can be plugged into “a long list of existing air defense, and command and control systems to provide a needed layer of defense.”

The palletized laser weapon system was built in the world’s first laser weapon factory in McKinney, Texas. It was delivered to the Life Cycle Management Center after nine months of order by the U.S. Air Force.