The British Army tested a high-energy weapon for the first time and successfully destroyed flying drones, after being launched off a Wolfhound vehicle in Wales.
The laser works by directing beams of infra-red light towards its target using advanced sensors and tracking systems to locate the drone in real time.
The successful trial of the laser could lead to big savings, as conventional munitions require a constant ammunition supply, which laser weapons do not.
Minister for defence procurement and industry, Maria Eagle MP, said: “This ground-breaking technology demonstrates Britain’s commitment to staying at the forefront of military innovation.
“The successful testing of this laser weapon system represents a significant step forward in our development of possible future defence capabilities and showcases British engineering excellence.
“The laser has been developed through a collaboration between the MOD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) — known as Team Hersa — and an industry consortium led by Raytheon UK.
This delivers on the Government’s Plan for change, by rapidly advancing technologies and building on the strong foundation of national security.”
Warrant officer Matthew Anderson, trials manager for the British Army’s Mounted Close Combat Trials and Development Group, said: “Every engagement we’ve done has removed a drone from the sky. While we’ve been testing a variety of distances, speeds, and altitudes, one thing has remained — how quick a drone can be taken out.
“It’s definitely a capability that could be added to the arsenal of weapons that we use on the battlefield.
“The purpose of the capability demonstrator programme is to discover and test the potential future use of directed energy weapons by the British Army.
“Having already been tested by engineers from MOD and industry, the latest experimentation by the British Army should provide knowledge, information and experience to support future requirement decisions, ensuring the UK stays at the forefront of this novel and disruptive technology.”
