MEHEL 2.0 demos C-UAS capability
The US Army has demonstrated the counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) capability of the Mobile Expeditionary High Energy Laser 2.0 (MEHEL 2.0) during the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization (JIDO) UAS Hard-Kill Challenge at White Sands Missile Range.
The laser, mounted on a Stryker armoured fighting vehicle chassis, is an improved version of the original MEHEL with a laser upgraded from 2kW to 5kW and other C-UAS capabilities added.
The JIDO Hard-Kill Challenge was carried out to assess technology capable of bringing down Group 1 UAS, and inform decision-makers on the current state of technology and how it can deal with single and multiple targets.
The army recognizes that high energy lasers have the potential to be a low-cost, effective complement to kinetic energy to address rocket, artillery and mortar threats; UAS and cruise missiles.
During the challenge, MEHEL engaged small, fixed-wing UAS and quad copters.
Adam Aberle, US Army Space and Missile Defense Command High Energy Laser Division technology development and demonstration lead, said: 'Getting everything integrated on the platform, being able to detect the target with the radar and then engage it with the high energy laser was very successful.
'We learned the 5kW laser was able to defeat the targets. We were able to verify and show that we could put a radar and a laser on a platform so it could self-cue to targets and that was very successful.'
The technology will now be matured in collaboration with industry with a view to developing it for future army applications.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![“A new philosophy of defence”: ASELSAN sets out ambitions for the future]()
“A new philosophy of defence”: ASELSAN sets out ambitions for the future
In Conversation: Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan talks to ASELSAN CEO and President Ahmet Akyol about how the business has evolved and expanded over the past five decades, and its aim of becoming a top 30 global defence company by 2030.
-
![Still no clarity on the future of the British Army’s new wheeled artillery system]()
Still no clarity on the future of the British Army’s new wheeled artillery system
The UK donated its AS90 155mm/39cal tracked self-propelled howitzers to Ukraine ahead of planned retirement and bought Archer platforms to fill the gap. Eventually RCH 155s were ordered but the procurement effort remains under a cloud.
-
![More details of Indonesia’s Celeris-based 4x4 emerge as customer hunt begins]()
More details of Indonesia’s Celeris-based 4x4 emerge as customer hunt begins
The Texelis Celeris builds on the rolling chassis of the Serval 4×4 lightweight multi-role armoured vehicle which is being built by Texelis and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Nexter Defence Systems (KNDS France).
-
![KF41 Lynx finds a path but hurdles remain]()
KF41 Lynx finds a path but hurdles remain
The Lynx is typically configured as an IFV operated by a crew of three and with space for up to eight dismounts in the rear troop compartment. The platform is being delivered to Hungary, has been contracted for Italy and will soon be in Ukrainian hands in small numbers.
