Lockheed's ATHENA disables truck engine
Lockheed Martin's Advanced Test High Energy Asset (ATHENA) laser weapon disabled the engine of a small truck in a recent field test, the company said on 3 March 2015.
According to the company, the ground-based, 30kW fibre laser weapon burned through the engine manifold in seconds from over a mile away. The truck was set on a platform with its drive train and engine running.
Keoki Jackson, chief technology officer, Lockheed Martin, said: 'We are investing in every component of the system – from the optics and beam control to the laser itself – to drive size, weight and power efficiencies. This test represents the next step to providing lightweight and rugged laser weapon systems for military aircraft, helicopters, ships and trucks.'
The demonstration marked the first field testing of an integrated, 30kW, single-mode fibre laser weapon prototype. The weapon uses spectral beam combining to form a single powerful beam out of multiple fibre laser modules. This beam provides higher lethality and efficiency than multiple individual 10kW lasers.
ATHENA is based on Lockheed Martin's Area Defense Anti-Munitions (ADAM) laser weapon system, which has undergone demonstrations against small sea-based and airborne targets.
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![Japan orders THeMIS UGVs]()
Japan orders THeMIS UGVs
Milrem’s Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) is a modular, multimission, hybrid UGV. The current fifth-generation model incorporates knowledge gained during tests in the US, Europe and the Middle East, as well as during field-deployment in Mali in the French-led Operation Barkhane.
-
![GDELS rolls out Piranha HMC]()
GDELS rolls out Piranha HMC
General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) MOWAG has introduced the Piranha Heavy Mission Carrier (10x10), an enhanced version of its Piranha armoured vehicle series, featuring increased payload capacity and specialised configurations for diverse battlefield roles.
-
![US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines]()
US deploys Mid-Range Capability missile defence system to the Philippines
Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile defence system has leveraged Lockheed Martin’s expertise with two in-service USN systems: the MK 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) and the Aegis Weapon System.
-
![USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement]()
USMC narrows down field for light loitering munition requirement
The US Marine Corps selected a team of UVision and Mistral to meet a requirement for Organic Precision Fires Mounted (OPF-M) loitering munition in 2021. It has now awarded contracts for the soldier carried light (OPF-L) version after the success of similar systems in Ukraine highlighted the potential for such weapons.
