Raytheon UK, a division of RTX’s Raytheon business, has announced the successful live-firing of its High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) in collaboration with the British Army.
Conducted at a military range in Wales as part of the Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) demonstrator program, the trial saw British soldiers effectively operate the HELWS to track and neutralize moving aerial targets.
“Our High-Energy Laser Weapon System has been used in operations globally, and now the British Army is experimenting with this game-changing capability,” said James Gray, chief executive and managing director of Raytheon UK. “The success of this test is the result of the skill, dedication, and vision of our scientists and engineers who have collaborated with the British Army to help fulfil its commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation.”
The trial marks a milestone as the first time the British Army has tested a high-energy laser weapon mounted on an armored vehicle. British soldiers were also trained in the system’s targeting and tracking technologies, enhancing their operational readiness for future deployment of directed energy systems.
Developed as part of a joint program between Raytheon UK and Team Hersa—a partnership involving the Defence and Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S)—the HELWS is the first laser weapon system integrated and fired from a land vehicle in the UK. The system employs an intense energy beam to target and neutralize threats, utilizing advanced sensors and real-time tracking for precision.
Matt Cork, Head of Team Hersa, emphasized the importance of the collaboration, stating, “This milestone demonstrates the power of collaboration between Dstl, DE&S industry partners, and the British Army. By integrating advanced directed energy technologies onto armored platforms, we’re not only proving the feasibility of these game-changing systems but also accelerating their path to operational readiness. It’s an exciting step forward in redefining the future of defence capability.”
The HELWS has already been proven effective in operational environments worldwide, reinforcing its potential as a transformative technology for modern warfare. This successful trial further validates its capabilities, bringing the British Army closer to deploying directed energy solutions to counter evolving threats on the battlefield.