British military tests laser weapon against drones
The British military has successfully deployed a newly developed laser weapon against drones. A video shows the weapon in action.
The laser weapon mounted on a Wolfhound personnel carrier.
(Image: British Ministry of Defense)
The British military has tested a high-energy laser weapon that is mounted on an armored vehicle and can shoot down enemy drones in mobile operations. This was announced by the British Ministry of Defense on Wednesday. The laser weapon can be used to combat drones flying at a distance of just over one kilometer.
Current armed conflicts show that civilian drones can be converted into weapons and used effectively against civilian and military targets. The British Ministry of Defense therefore commissioned an industrial consortium led by the defence company Raytheon UK to develop a laser weapon for drone defence in a contract worth 16.8 million British pounds.
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There is not much information about the laser weapon, which is still in the experimental stage. The system is said to have "advanced sensors and tracking systems" that enable rapid target acquisition. Drones flying at different speeds should be able to be engaged at a distance of just over one kilometer. The laser weapon is portable and can operate from military vehicles.
Initial tests successful
A test of the laser weapon by a unit of the 16th Regiment of the Royal Artillery, which specializes in the air defence of ground troops, demonstrated the weapon's effectiveness at the Radnor Range training area in central Wales. The laser weapon was mounted on a Wolfhound armored personnel carrier. The laser was used to knock various quadcopter drones out of the sky as they flew at different speeds. However, the British Ministry of Defense did not provide any information on the hit rate.
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(Image:Â British Ministry of Defense)
It is also unclear how high the costs per shot are. A similar laser weapon commissioned by the British Ministry of Defense, the Dragon Fire, costs just 10 British pounds per shot. The Ministry of Defense plans to have this system used by the Army and the Royal Navy in air defence. Whether and when the newly developed laser weapon will be introduced for drone defense is not yet known.
(olb)
