Raytheon high-powered microwave completes testing
CHIMERA successfully completed a three-week field test in New Mexico, showcasing the system’s ability to defeat airborne threats at the speed of light. (Photo: AFRL)
The US Air Force’s transportable, standalone high-powered microwave (HPM) Counter-Electronic High-Power Microwave Extended-Range Air Base Defense (CHIMERA) system will play an important role in layered defence.
The US Air Force Research Laboratory and Raytheon have successfully completed a three-week field test of the CHIMERA HPM weapon at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
During the test, CHIMERA applied directed energy to multiple static target variations and demonstrated end-to-end fire control by acquiring and tracking aerial targets and maintaining tracking for the entire flight path.
CHIMERA, was built to fire highly concentrated radio energy at multiple middle-to-long-range targets. The ground-based demonstration system wields more power than other HPM systems to defeat airborne threats at the speed of light.
CHIMERA has been part of the Directed Energy Front-line Electromagnetic Neutralization and Defeat (DEFEND) program, a joint service effort to design, build and test HPM systems for front-line deployment.
Raytheon has partnered with experts at the AFRL, Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division and the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to complete the work.
Raytheon president of advanced technology Colin Whelan said: “High-power microwave systems are cost-effective and reliable solutions that play an important role in layered defence by increasing magazine depth and giving warfighters more options to defeat adversaries quickly.”
In December 2023, Raytheon won a contract to design, build and test two HPM antenna systems that would use directed energy to defeat airborne threats at the speed of light.
Under this three-year, US$31.3 million contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Raytheon will deliver prototype systems to the US Navy and US Air Force as part of the DEFEND programme.
More from Land Warfare
-
![German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year]()
German Army to receive third-generation Dingo protected patrol vehicles this year
More than 1,200 Dingo 1 and Dingo 2 models have been built and deployed by some 10 countries. The latest Dingo 3 pulls through from user inputs and, like earlier versions, is also based on a UNIMOG chassis.
-
![Hungary’s Gamma Technical expands vehicle range]()
Hungary’s Gamma Technical expands vehicle range
The company’s new variants of 4×6 and 6×6 vehicles are designed to be modular for a greater variety of missions and also flexibility at a subsystem level, for example transmission and engine.
-
![Large 10×10 vehicles go in search of a role]()
Large 10×10 vehicles go in search of a role
Wheeled vehicles ranging in size from 4×4 to 8×8 provide high-speed at a good level of mobility compared to tracked. However, tracked can be larger and have a higher level of mobility in marginal terrain with a smaller turning circle. What are the possibilities for a 10×10?
-
![Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation]()
Borsuk IFV programme marks turning point for Poland’s armoured modernisation
The Borsuk vehicles are to replace the Soviet-designed BMP-1 as the Polish military’s main tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).
-
![DroneShield nets largest order ever with $40 million European CUAS contract]()
DroneShield nets largest order ever with $40 million European CUAS contract
The package of three standalone follow-on contracts makes this the largest contract won by the Australian company and larger than its total 2024 revenue.
