For the first time in history, Britain tested a laser weapon mounted on an armored vehicle against UAVs

For the first time in history, Britain tested a laser weapon mounted on an armored vehicle against UAVs Anastasia Kushpit

Britain tested laser weapons mounted on an armored vehicle against UAVs/Raytheon

The British defense company Raytheon, for the first time in the country's history, tested laser weapons that were integrated into an armored vehicle. They shot down drones.

Raytheon said that such a laser was created to destroy class 1 UAVs according to NATO classification. It is compatible with existing air defense systems, in particular with radar, command post and other platforms.

What is known about the new British laser weapons

This laser is called HELWS. It was integrated into the British Wolfhound armored vehicle and tested for the first time at the Porton Down training ground.

This event marks a major leap forward in the UK MoD program for the demonstration of ground-based directional laser weapons. The increasing prevalence, spread and development of drone warfare makes the rapid adoption of counter-drone technologies even more important, the company said.

Test results

This laser weapon has already accumulated more than 40 thousand test hours and destroyed more than 400 targets.

HELWS has also already received certification for its use by the US Armed Forces. The American army has so far received several of these weapons.

Note that the UK is working on another DragonFire laser weapon. In April, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shepps said the country would consider whether it could send prototypes to Ukraine sooner. Even if they are not 100 percent perfected.