Raytheon tests HELWS High-Energy Laser with Kongsberg NASAMS air defense system


Raytheon Technologies has demonstrated its High Energy Laser Weapon System paired with a Norwegian NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System ) anti-missile technology to destroy a swarm of drone targets: the HELWS destroyed nine Group one and Group two drones over the White Sands Missile Range.
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Jointly developed by Raytheon Missiles & Defense (HELMS), and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the NASAMS medium-range air defense solution includes the Sentinel radar, Fire Distribution Centre, and a suite of effectors. (Picture source: Raytheon/Kongsberg)


The company said on March 31 that HELWS received and used target cues from the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System’s Fire Distribution Center during a demonstration at White Sands Missile Range, Nichols Martin reports in ExecutiveBiz. The cues, along with electro-optical/infrared sensors, allowed HELWS to track and strike nine drone targets at tactical distances during the live-fire test. Raytheon’s high-energy laser weapon systems is part of the U.S. Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) program.

Jointly developed by Raytheon Missiles & Defense (HELMS), and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, the NASAMS medium-range air defence solution includes the Sentinel radar, Fire Distribution Centre, and a suite of effectors. NASAMS adds to the existing sensor, effector and command and control capabilities of HELWS for boosted flexibility.

RI&S builds its laser weapons in McKinney, Texas. The open-architecture weapon systems deploy from land, air or sea platforms to protect civilian and military facilities.