Raytheon Technologies has successfully tested a palletized high-energy laser weapon for the U.S. Air Force.
Assessed over multiple days of continuous live-fire exercises, the weapon marks the fourth operational laser weapon system Raytheon has delivered to the service branch, the company announced from McKinney, Texas on Monday.
“Anywhere the Air Force sees a threat from drones, they now have four proven laser weapons that can be deployed to stop asymmetrical threats,” said Michael Hofle, senior director of high-energy lasers at Raytheon.
The weapon system, known as H4, is small enough to fit in the bed of a pickup truck and can be moved and mounted in different locations as needed. It includes a high-energy laser weapon module, thermal control, internal electrical power and targeting software as well as a long-range EO/IR sensor that functions as the beam director. Operated with a laptop and video game-style controller, it is compatible with a variety of existing air defense and command and control systems.
During the testing, which took place at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Raytheon’s H4 completed four days of exercises focused on acquiring, targeting, tracking and destroying drone targets in short-range attack, swarm attack and long-range threat situations.
“Whether it’s on a fixed location, a flatbed or even a pickup, these laser weapons are compact, rugged and ready to go. That’s why we’re proud to support the Air Force’s effort to provide this new tech to the personnel who need it in the field, who can trust and be confident in the system’s capabilities,” Hofle said.
H4 is the first stand-alone, mobile 10-kilowatt laser that meets U.S. military specifications. It is the eighth total operational laser weapons system that Raytheon has delivered to the Department of Defense.
