Laser counter-UAS system introduced by Raytheon
NewsOctober 22, 2019
McKINNEY, Texas. Raytheon Company delivered the first high-energy laser, counter-unmanned aerial system (UAS) to the U.S. Air Force earlier this month. The system will be deployed overseas as part of a year-long Air Force experiment to train operators and test the system's effectiveness in real-world conditions.
Raytheon's high-energy laser weapon system (HELWS) uses an advanced variant of the company's Multi-spectral Targeting System, an electro-optical/infrared sensor, intended to detect, identify, and track rogue drones. Once targeted, the system is designed to engage the threat and neutralize the UAS in a matter of seconds.
Raytheon installed its high-energy laser weapon system on a small all-terrain vehicle. According to the company, on a single charge from a standard 220-volt outlet, the HELWS can deliver intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability as well as precise laser shots.
It can also be paired with a generator to provide a nearly infinite number of shots, according to company officials.
