UK first for vehicle-mounted laser weapon trial

The laser weapon was mounted on to a British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle and ‘neutralised’ targets at distances of over 1km.

The successful test-firing is part of the MoD’s Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator programme.

According to Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) the next phase of testing will involve trials with army personnel later this year, further evaluating the system’s capabilities and benefits in real-world scenarios.

In a statement, Dstl chief executive Dr Paul Hollinshead OBE MBA said: “This is another significant milestone in accelerating the adoption of directed energy weapons.

“Working ever closer with DE&S [Defence Equipment & Support] and industry to develop critical new capabilities, we are preparing the armed forces for the future so they can detect, disable and destroy future and novel threats.”

The system operates with a command-and-control system and can be integrated with wider battle management radar and surveillance systems. Dstl added that the weapon can be mounted on various platforms to meet different operational needs.

The British supply chain includes Raytheon UK, Frazer-Nash, NP Aerospace, LumOptica, Blighter Surveillance Systems, and Cambridge Pixel.

Matt Cork, Dstl Programme Lead, said: “The successful testing of this high-powered laser weapon marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to enhance the future operational capabilities of the British Army. This technology offers a precise, powerful and cost-effective means to defeat aerial threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces.”

“In successfully firing the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle in the UK, Dstl has proven that the Raytheon high-energy laser weapon system can track, engage and defeat targets whilst mounted on a vehicle,” added James Gray, chief executive and managing director of Raytheon UK. “We now look forward to the British Army experimenting with the weapon over the coming months and proving that the technology is battlefield ready.”

The vehicle-mounted test firing follows the successful firing of the DragonFire LDEW in January, 2024. The high-power firing of DragonFire saw the weapon defeat aerial targets during a trial at the MoD’s Hebrides Range.