This groundbreaking experiment is the first instance of the British Army testing a high-energy laser weapon mounted on an armoured vehicle. RTX played a pivotal role in developing the system, training soldiers to operate its advanced targeting and tracking capabilities during the Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) demonstrator programme.
HELWS operates by emitting a high-intensity energy beam, using sophisticated sensors and tracking systems to ensure real-time lock-on and accuracy. James Gray, chief executive and managing director of Raytheon UK, emphasised RTX’s contribution: “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.”
As part of a £16.8 million joint effort with Team Hersa—a collaboration between Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), and industry partners—RTX led the integration of the HELWS onto a land vehicle. The system validated its effectiveness in real-world conditions, confirming its potential as a revolutionary technology in modern warfare.
Matt Cork, Head of Team Hersa, praised the collaboration: “By integrating advanced directed energy technologies onto armoured 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.”