The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence is seeking industry solutions to rapidly implement laser weapons mounted on ground vehicles, capable of shooting down drones from over one kilometer away.
The initiative, part of a new defense program against unmanned aerial systems (UAS), aims to identify the current level of development of LDEW (Laser Directed Energy Weapon) technology. The goal is to acquire effective systems that can be delivered within 12 months and contain at least 50% British components.
The British government has reserved up to US$27.1 million for this acquisition and is encouraging collaborations between companies in the sector. Selected suppliers must demonstrate their technologies in practical tests, with facilities provided by the government itself.
The tender was broadly designed to allow the submission of different types of technological and operational solutions, focusing on system performance, cost, and availability.
This move follows the success of a test conducted in October 2024, when the British Army used a high-energy laser mounted on a Wolfhound armored vehicle to destroy drones in flight. The experiment was conducted by Team Hersa, a consortium that includes the government and Raytheon UK, and involved soldiers from the 16th Royal Artillery Regiment.
The participation period for the program runs until July 2025, with the possibility of active contracts between August 2025 and March 2026.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @DefenceES | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
The @BritishArmy has fired a laser weapon from an armoured vehicle for the first time, successfully destroying flying drones.
The directed energy weapon demonstrator was developed through our collaboration with @dstlmod and an industry consortium led by @Raytheon_UK. pic.twitter.com/bNAjMozhRn
— Defence Equipment & Support (@DefenceES) December 11, 2024
