Raytheon developing laser weapon system
Raytheon is developing a 100kW class laser weapon system preliminary design for integration onboard the US Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), the company announced on 2 July.
The $10 million contract has been awarded under the US Army’s High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstration (HEL TVD) programme. HEL TVD, a science and technology demonstration programme, is part of the army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 initiative.
Following completion of HEL TVD programme option two, one supplier will be awarded a system development and demonstration contract by the army to build and integrate a weapon system on the FMTVs. A $130 million system, development and demonstration contract decision is expected early in 2019.
Roy Azevedo, VP of intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance systems at Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems business unit, said: ‘The beauty of this system is that it’s self-contained. Multi-spectral targeting sensors, fibre-combined lasers, power and thermal sub-systems are incorporated in a single package. This system is being designed to knock out rockets, artillery or mortar fire or small drones.’
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