Raytheon contracted to develop laser for U.S. Army

Raytheon has a received a $10 million contract to develop the US Army's High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstration program.

The program is part of the Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 initiative designed to counter incoming aerial threats such as drones, cruise missiles, artillery rounds and rockets.

The system will mount a 100 kilowatt laser, making it significantly more powerful than the 5 and 10 KW lasers the Army has previously tested. The increased power would make it capable of engaging more diverse targets and at significantly longer ranges.

The laser will be mounted on the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, a series of armored tactical trucks that range up to 10 tons in payload capacity.

"The beauty of this system is that it's self-contained," Roy Azevedo, vice president of Intelligence, Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems at Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business unit, said in a press release.

"Multi-spectral targeting sensors, fiber-combined lasers, power and thermal subsystems are incorporated in a single package," Azevedo said. "

A System, Development and Demonstration contract worth $130 million is expected by early 2019, according to Raytheon.

The Department of Defense has been investing in laser technology for decades. Lasers are seen as the most ideal option for targeting advanced missiles and other emerging threats. It could prove to be a low-cost alternative to more expensive munitions, according to the Department of Defense.

Related Links
Learn about laser weapon technology at SpaceWar.com

Tweet

Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.

SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly

paypal only

SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once

credit card or paypal

China firm develops 'laser gun'
Beijing (AFP) July 3, 2018
A Chinese firm has developed a laser gun designed for police use that can set fire to protesters' hair or banners from a range of almost one kilometre. The general manager of the ZKZM fiber laser company, who asked to remain anonymous, said the weapon would "immediately" produce a "strong pain response" in the target but stressed it was designed to be "non-lethal". "The weapon is designed to do things such as setting fire to illegal banners at a protest or setting fire to the hair or clothing of ... read more