Earlier this Summer, Raytheon UK, NP Aerospace, Blighter and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) worked together to deliver the first test firings of a laser weapon from a British army vehicle.

The system trialled is a 15 Kw compact, portable laser weapon by Raytheon, carried in this case about a WOLFHOUND 6x6 protected logistics vehicle. These early firings have been conducted at Dstl’s range in Porton Down and have seen the laser neutralise targets at distances in excess of 1km.

This project is known as SWINTON and is one of several work strands within Defence’s Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) demonstration programme, which also includes the famous DRAGONFIRE (50 Kw laser) and EALING, a radiofrequency “cannon” for countering swarms of small drones.

SWINTON’s laser system is especially compact and can be easily adapted to vehicles, including smaller options than WOLFHOUND. At least for now, however, SWINTON is not a fully self-contained solution since the radar(s) for early warning and tracking of the targets are operated separately of the vehicle. The radar used for the trials is Blighter’s Multi-Mode A800 3D e-scan. 2 radars have been used simultaneously to demonstrate wide area coverage, target tracking and target hand-off to the laser for engagement. The A800’s Multi-Mode capability allows it to detect targets in the air, on land, and at sea out to a maximum range of 20 km, offering very high performance for a system that is very compact and easily portable.

The laser weapon is a Raytheon development which is already at a very good maturity level, having engaged more than 20 different types of drone targets across multiple programs in the USA as well as the SWINTON programme. The laser turret doubles as a EO/IR surveillance sensor and is fully palletized. Directed Energy Weapons have the Ministry of Defence’s attention because they offer a cheap solution for destroying enemy drones, and come with virtually endless “ammunition”. Each shot has a virtual cost of “10 pence”, which would finally solve the problem of using very expensive weapons to destroy inexpensive drones.

Other UK firms involved in the project include Fraser Nash, LumOptica, and Cambridge Pixel.