The new laser weapon, known as "H4," is a 10-kilowatt laser built to U.S. military specifications in a stand-alone configuration that can be moved and mounted anywhere it's needed.
The palletized laser weapon system, designed to protect against short-range aerial threats, passed the Air Force's Test and Assessment plan, which included multiple days of live-fire exercises to acquire, target, track, and destroy drone targets.
The laser weapon system is compact, rugged, and ready to be deployed on various platforms, including fixed locations, flatbeds, or even pickups. It can be operated with a laptop and a video game-style controller.
The system was built in a laser weapon factory in McKinney, Texas, and delivered to the Air Force's Life Cycle Management Center nine months after the order was received.
The delivery of the H4 laser weapon marks the eighth total system that Raytheon Technologies has delivered to the U.S. Department of Defense.
The laser weapon system provides an additional layer of defense and can be integrated with existing air defense and command and control systems.
“Anywhere the Air Force sees a threat from drones, they now have four proven laser weapons that can be deployed to stop asymmetrical threats,” said Michael Hofle, senior director of High-Energy Lasers at Raytheon Technologies. “Whether it’s on a fixed location, a flatbed or even a pickup, these laser weapons are compact, rugged and ready to go. That’s why we’re proud to support the Air Force’s effort to provide this new tech to the personnel who need it in the field, who can trust and be confident in the system’s capabilities.”
Source: Raytheon
