Lockheed Martin awarded contract for 300kW laser weapon systems
Lockheed Martin will deliver two 300 kW-class IFPC-HEL prototypes with an option for two more. (Image: Lockheed Martin)
Lockheed Martin has secured a contract to develop and deliver up to four 300kW-class laser weapon systems for the US Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) prototype programme.
Under the contract Lockheed Martin will deliver two 300kW-class Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) prototypes with an option for two additional units.
The IFPC-HEL system complements other layered defence components to protect soldiers from stressing threats, UAS, rocket, artillery and mortars, along with rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.
Development of the system began in 2019 with Lockheed Martin working on the transition from the 100 kW-class science and technology programme, the High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL-TVD), to the 300 kW-class IFPC-HEL demonstrator.
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US Army to attain laser weapon vehicle by 2022
Lockheed Martin unveils plans to develop new class of 500kW laser weapon
In 2020, Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract to develop a compact, ruggedised 300 kW-class laser for the DoD.
In August 2022, Lockheed Martin delivered the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI) laser for use in the IFPC-HEL demonstrator, which was the most powerful solid-state directed energy technology delivered at that time.
In July Lockheed Martin announced plans to upscale its 300kW laser to 500kW class under a contract awarded by the US Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), a follow on to a contract from the same organisation for developing a smaller version.
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