Rheinmetall tests laser weapon technology
Rheinmetall has completed a series of comprehensive trials with a new weapon station at its Ochsenboden test centre in Zürich, Switzerland, the company announced on 28 February.
The weapon station, in combination with a laser, demonstrated its speed and precision in tests conducted in December 2018. The weapon station can be equipped with lasers in the 100 kW output power range. During the tests, UAS and mortar rounds were successfully engaged at operationally relevant ranges.
The laser weapon station is the latest stage of the process in which Rheinmetall has transformed laser weapon technology into a fully functional weapon system. It consists of four main components: the laser source, beam director with the telescope, and coarse tracker. The mobile weapon station can mechanically point the laser towards the target.
During the tests, the laser weapon station was combined with a beam director and advanced lasers. It can also be combined with an upcoming 20 kW laser source.
Now that the weapon station, specially designed to meet the requirements of a laser weapon station, has been successfully realised, Rheinmetall has all of the principal assemblies for a future laser weapon system.
The modular and scalable assemblies are suitable for ground, air and naval operations modular and can be deployed on all types of military platforms.
The laser weapon station offers an accurate mechanical aiming function, coupled with an unlimited, 360° traversing zone and an elevation range in excess of 270°. The system architecture (EN DIN 61508) is closely oriented to the Mantis air defence system.
More from Land Warfare
-
![K9 rolls on as Egypt unveils systems, Australia fires and Vietnam and Norway place orders]()
K9 rolls on as Egypt unveils systems, Australia fires and Vietnam and Norway place orders
Hanwha Aerospace’s tracked K9 Thunder 155mm/52-calibre self-propelled howitzer has had notable success in the market over the past few years in Europe and Asia, with Poland alone ordering 316 systems.
-
![Unlocking the potential of Light Forces in modern warfare (Studio)]()
Unlocking the potential of Light Forces in modern warfare (Studio)
The Ukraine conflict has highlighted the strategic importance of “Light Forces” – rapidly deployable dispersed units, able to conduct an expanding range of mission sets. What technologies and equipment are needed to ensure their success in combat?
-
![Western Europe is looking to refresh its APC/IFV fleets with potential $41 billion spend]()
Western Europe is looking to refresh its APC/IFV fleets with potential $41 billion spend
As militaries across Western Europe continue to modernise their capabilities, there are some major potential opportunities in the requirement for armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.
-
![US Army orders more upgraded Bradleys as transformation threatens other programmes]()
US Army orders more upgraded Bradleys as transformation threatens other programmes
Compared to previous versions of the vehicle, the Bradley M2A4 upgrade includes an uprated suspension, a more powerful engine, an independent commander’s sight, a more capable electronic architecture and improved networking capabilities.
-
![De-Risking the Future: Manufacturing Certainty for Unmanned Systems]()
De-Risking the Future: Manufacturing Certainty for Unmanned Systems
How strategic manufacturing partnership solves the industrialisation triad — Scale, Compliance and Cost — for hyper-growth defence tech innovators.
-
![Battlefield mobility, made in the UK]()
Battlefield mobility, made in the UK
How does Britain ensure that we can preserve the lives of our soldiers and allies – now and in the future – with homegrown innovation and resilient domestic manufacturing? At Pearson Engineering, we are proud to be a central part of the answer to this increasingly important question.
