The partnership seeks to create “new possibilities” for enhancing naval drone defenses amid rising geopolitical tensions.

According to Rheinmetall, both companies bring “complementary skills” in developing and integrating laser weapon technologies.

The two firms previously worked together on a laser demonstration onboard a German Navy frigate, successfully firing over 100 test shots at representative targets.

With the new collaboration, Rheinmetall and MBDA hope to introduce a maritime product to the defense market within the next five to six years.

Low-Cost Solution

There have been increasing calls for more affordable solutions to neutralizing drone threats, with a Pentagon official acknowledging that the costs of firing counter-drone weapons and munitions are becoming “too high.”

Iran-backed Houthi rebels have mocked the US for using $2-million air defense missiles to intercept drones that cost only $2,000.

Even US Department of Defense undersecretary for acquisition William LaPlante admitted that current military efforts to eliminate enemy drones now exceed $100,000 per shot.

Laser weapons present a cost-effective alternative, with the UK saying its DragonFire can shoot down drones at $13 per shot.

Israel’s Rafael also claims its 100-kilowatt Iron Beam ground-based laser air defense system has “almost zero cost per interception.”

While promising, laser weapon development poses challenges, as it requires extensive research and design processes.

The post Rheinmetall, MBDA to Jointly Develop Maritime Laser Weapon appeared first on The Defense Post.

An article published in the Chinese journal Command Control & Simulation pointed out the increasing challenges faced by underwater vehicles in the advent of sophisticated anti-submarine technologies.

It said traditional defense tactics, such as changing speed, direction, and depth, only provide limited effectiveness against modern anti-submarine aircraft with powerful detection and weapon systems.

To keep pace with these advanced threats, the article suggests that directed energy weapons could offer a more updated and effective means of defense for submarines.

If the planned integration pushes through, this could be a perfect time for Beijing as it transitions to electric- and nuclear-powered submarines that can provide the necessary power for high-energy laser weapons.

No Easy Feat

Integrating a laser weapon into an underwater vehicle would not be easy, as the process would require specific installation requirements.

The article argued that most submarines have limited internal space, which would not be able to accommodate an effective laser cooling system.

To address this, the journal said Beijing could develop a modular fiber laser similar to what Lockheed Martin has manufactured.

The laser system reportedly uses flexible optical fibers, which can be coiled to save space and improve cooling efficiency.

In addition to space, the operational use of laser weapons on submarines itself could pose a significant challenge as it would involve “careful timing and tactical considerations.”

The post China Exploring Laser Weapon Integration Into Submarines appeared first on The Defense Post.

The demonstration aligns with the UK Ministry of Defence’s Land Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) Demonstrator program which seeks a ground vehicle-mounted capability to counter drones.

Held at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Porton Down range in England, the event saw the weapon activated at full power while integrated with a British Army Wolfhound armored tactical support vehicle.

The trial concluded with the HELWS successfully neutralizing targets at more than 1,000 meters (3,280 feet).

“This high-powered firing is a significant step towards ensuring the UK Armed Forces can exploit this potentially game changing capability at pace so they have the edge against both current and future threats,” a statement from the UK defense agency said.

“This technology offers a precise, powerful and cost effective means to defeat aerial threats, ensuring greater protection for our forces.”

More Tests to Follow

London wrote that data from the activity will be used to further explore the applications of future LDEW systems against other threats.

Additional tests will also be facilitated with the British Army later this year to learn more about the HELWS capabilities and its real-world drone warfare scenarios.

“In successfully firing the first laser weapon integrated on a land vehicle in the UK, DSTL has proven that the Raytheon high energy laser weapon system can track, engage and defeat targets whilst mounted on a vehicle,” Raytheon UK Managing Director James Gray stated.

“We now look forward to the British Army experimenting with the weapon over the coming months and proving that the technology is battlefield ready.”

The post Raytheon HELWS Laser Weapon Completes First Fire for British Army appeared first on The Defense Post.

The country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said its so-called “StarWars” directed energy system emits powerful beams for up to 20 seconds.

It can neutralize flying hostile drones by burning down their engines or other electronic parts.

In addition to being quiet and invisible, the laser weapon is relatively cheap to operate, reportedly costing only 2,000 Korean won ($1.45) per shot.

Once fielded, DAPA said Seoul will become the world’s first country to officially deploy and operate laser weapons.

“Our military’s response capabilities on North Korea’s drone provocation will be further strengthened,” it added.

Provocations

South Korea’s decision to deploy laser weapons follows a series of drone provocations by Pyongyang, including an incident in December 2022.

Five North Korean drones breached South Korean airspace, prompting Seoul to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters.

A five-hour pursuit did not yield positive results, raising questions about the country’s air defense capabilities and readiness.

The military apologized for failing to shoot down the hostile drones and vowed to employ detection devices to spot them from an early stage and aggressively deploy strike assets.

Following the incident, The Washington Post reported on a leaked US document that said Seoul will be vulnerable to North Korean drones for years.

The document noted that South Korea has prioritized its defenses against incoming missiles but neglected its other air defense needs.

The post S. Korea to Deploy Laser Weapons to Shoot Down N. Korean Drones appeared first on The Defense Post.

The Fractl is Canberra’s first directed energy weapon designed to neutralize aerial drones moving at 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour.

Built and delivered by Melbourne-based industry partner AIM Defence, the capability fires a concentrated laser with “less than the amount of power it takes to boil a kettle” at the speed of light to burn through steel.

The suitcase-sized solution can localize threats as small as a 10-cent coin at 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) away.

The ADF wrote that the weapon is operated silently and motionlessly, adding that unfamiliar personnel can also learn the platform within minutes.

“You push a button to track the drone and the computer takes over, then you push another button to ‘pull the trigger’ just like a video game,” ADF Corporal Patrick Flanagan explained.   

“With your index finger you can quickly change your aim between the drone’s video camera, centre mass or one of the propellers. 

“It only takes seconds to knock out the camera and two or three seconds to disable the rotor.”

Weapon With ‘Endless Magazine’

According to ADF, an additional Fractl test was conducted alongside armored teams to evaluate the weapon’s counter-unmanned aerial system (c-UAS) function before the Puckapunyal trial.

“They consumed a lot of ammunition and were hitting the target at very close range,” ADF Robotic and Autonomous Systems Warrant Officer 2 Eli Lea stated. “There was no margin for error.”

“Laser weapons essentially have an endless magazine as long as there’s power.”

“Modern fire control systems specifically designed to track and engage drones are what’s needed.” 

Preparing for Advanced Threats

The ADF further highlighted the importance of the Fractl and similar anti-drone solutions to address the emergence of autonomous aircraft in modern warfare.

“Drones come in all shapes and sizes and you need a variety of tools to defeat the threat,” Lea said.

“Shooting small multi-rotor UAS out of the sky is particularly challenging. A directed-energy weapon that can detect, track and engage those types of targets is a part of that tool set.”

“The lessons from Ukraine are that drones are a genuine problem and if we don’t do anything about it, we’re going to get a rude awakening in the next fight.”

The post Australian Military Demos Fractl Laser Weapon in Victoria appeared first on The Defense Post.

The agreement supports the agency’s ongoing Laser Technology Research Development and Optimization (LARDO) program, which seeks weapons against aerial drones and similar systems.

Under the contract, the company will extend design and manufacturing tasks to further improve the efficiency, performance, automation, and ruggedization of its directed energy solutions for the army.

Other objectives include the enhancement of size, weight, and power of covered assets.

“We are developing tools to win the next war so there is no next war,” BlueHalo Chief Technology Officer Dr. Vikram Manikonda explained.

“We are expanding and accelerating BlueHalo’s air defense innovations, not only with Directed Energy technologies but with the diagnostic and surveillance monitoring systems that enable their sustainment, operation, and continuous improvement in the field.”

“Our solutions are interoperable and designed with extreme care for the warfighter, providing the Army with a full system of systems to mature the use of laser weapons to meet our national security demands.”

For Counter-Drone Missions

BlueHalo will leverage experiences in developing counter-unmanned aerial systems (c-UAS), including lessons acquired from the recent deployments of its proprietary Locust laser systems.

The Locust incorporates precision laser and optical hardware as well as advanced processing and artificial intelligence software to maintain target identification, tracking, and engagement for warfighters.

“Through the LARDO program, the US Army is investing in the rapid innovation and maturation of our Nation’s laser weapon capabilities,” BlueHalo Chief Operating Officer Trip Ferguson stated.

“BlueHalo’s LOCUST laser systems are deployed overseas, providing multi-domain mission success in UAS threat elimination and force protection. We are honored that the US Army continues to trust BlueHalo to deliver superior Directed Energy technologies and air defense innovations.”

Laser Weapon Contracts

BlueHalo signed a contract in April to provide support services for the US Army’s Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) system.

Made by BlueHalo, the P-HEL fires energy to protect users and critical infrastructure from small-type drone aircraft.

The contract will include full-cycle services and will run for four years.

The company accepted a separate project in November 2023 to supply Locust systems for the US Marine Corps.

The ordered articles will be tested in partnership with the Naval Surface Warfare Center and integrated into the Marines’ Joint Light Tactical Vehicle fleet.

The post BlueHalo Secures Directed Energy Prototyping Contract From US Army appeared first on The Defense Post.

The service’s acquisition head Doug Bush recently told the Senate that soldiers who tested the Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) are having difficulty with the system at different power levels.

“That [50-kilowatt] power level is proving challenging to incorporate into a vehicle that has to move around constantly — the heat dissipation, the amount of electronics, kind of the wear and tear of a vehicle in a tactical environment versus a fixed site,” he said.

Bush further pointed out that the positive results the DE M-SHORAD got from previous laboratory and live-fire trials are very different from how it performed in a tactical environment.

“Soldiers will tell you everything and they’re not worried about your feelings,” he said.

The DE M-SHORAD Program

In an attempt to find a mobile and cost-effective solution to defeat drones, the US Army experimented on mounting an RTX high-energy weapon onto a General Dynamics’ Stryker vehicle.

It tasked Kord Technologies for the initiative and specified that the system must be able to neutralize small, medium, and large drones, as well as incoming rockets, artillery, and mortars.

In August 2021, the service carried out the first tests of the DE M-SHORAD during a “combat shoot-off” at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Another live-fire test took place in May 2022 in which the system acquired, tracked, targeted, and defeated multiple mortars at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Earlier this year, the US Army announced the deployment of the Stryker-mounted laser weapon to the Middle East amid growing drone attacks from Houthi rebels.

But according to Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus, the DE M-SHORAD will not conduct live-fire tests yet or engage hostile drones, as it will focus on operating in dusty conditions.

The post US Army Soldiers Dissatisfied With Stryker-Mounted Laser Weapon: Bush appeared first on The Defense Post.

Shapps recently told The Telegraph that development has begun for the country’s new Multi-Role Support Ships (MRSS), which will be operated by the Royal Marines.

The vessels will have the primary task of rapidly transporting the service’s commando forces from sea to shore anywhere in the world.

But they can also participate in combat operations, as the MRSS will have a dock that can host and launch attack drones.

They will also feature a specialized area to mount laser weapons, potentially the UK’s recently-tested DragonFire, which can neutralize hostile drones and missiles.

“We’re not building a ship that can only ever go and storm the beach and nothing else,” Shapps stated. “We’re building a ship that could be as useful offshore … that could send commandos beneath the sea to their final location.”

The defense secretary is expected to formally announce the MRSS development during a sea power conference later this week.

‘Winning Future Battles’

The MRSS is set to replace the country’s aging HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark amphibious assault vessels.

It will have docks for landing craft, a hangar that can house a Chinook helicopter, and a launch pad for rotary-wing aircraft.

It will also have a spacious hull to accommodate a wide variety of cargo depending on mission needs.

According to Shapps, the promising capabilities of the new warships are in line with the country’s goal of winning potential naval battles with China and other adversaries in the future.

He said the program also aims to lead allies to invest more in naval power as China and Russia continue to boost their military capabilities.

“We’re making these critical investments in shipbuilding to build the future Royal Navy needed to deter our adversaries, and then win if they are not deterred,” Shapps stressed.

The post UK to Receive Specialist Warships That Can Launch Drones, Fire Lasers appeared first on The Defense Post.

In a recent parliamentary session, labor minister John Martin McDonnell sought clarification from his fellow members of parliament as to whether the powerful laser weapon is bound for Kyiv.

Armed forces minister Leo Docherty responded by first saying that the new military aid will include more than 400 armored vehicles, 1,600 munitions, and additional Storm Shadow long-range missiles.

When it comes to the DragonFire, he said the technology is still under development and will be deployed by 2027, making it impossible for the British government to include the weapon in the aid package.

However, Docherty did not directly rule out the possibility of sending the high-energy weapon to Ukraine once development and testing are complete.

Previous Announcement

The idea of getting the DragonFire laser weapon into the hands of Ukrainian soldiers was first floated by UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps during his recent visit to a military research hub in Salisbury, England.

He claimed that the tech would have “huge ramifications” for the conflict, considering its ability to effectively neutralize drones.

Russia has been known to have used hundreds of drones to support combat, surveillance, or reconnaissance missions in Ukraine.

Britain's Ministry of Defense has shown footage from tests of the DragonFire long-range laser weapon.@DefenceHQ says that such advanced weaponry can "fundamentally change the battlespace."

Ukraine is ready to take and test the operation of such a laser complex in combat… pic.twitter.com/EI11lr0gRZ

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) March 12, 2024

Shapps said that although the DragonFire will not be operational until 2027, he wanted to speed up its production and make it available sooner.

“What I want to do is speed up what would usually be a very lengthy process, possibly up to 10 years, down to a much shorter timeframe and get it deployed, potentially on ships and on land,” he told reporters.

“Let’s say that it didn’t have to be 100 percent perfect in order for Ukrainians, perhaps, to get their hands on it. 2027 is still the date, as of this moment, but of course, I’ll look to see what we can do to speed it up.”

A Cost-Effective System

The UK’s DragonFire works by releasing an intense beam of energy that cuts through drones and other sophisticated aerial threats with improved precision.

It integrates cutting-edge components that help track moving targets with very high accuracy.

According to the UK defense ministry, the weapon can eliminate the need for expensive ammunition, as firing a 10-second laser burst only costs around $13.

The DragonFire will undergo a series of additional live-fire tests before it can be declared operationally ready.

The post UK Says Not Sending DragonFire Laser Weapon to Ukraine appeared first on The Defense Post.

During a ceremony in Paris, the defense ministers of France and Germany, Sebastien Lecornu and Boris Pistorius, signed a memorandum of understanding that seals a 50-50 split in the industrial production of an advanced battle tank dubbed the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS).

The push to move ahead with the project comes as Berlin and Paris are eager to show unity after a series of spats on how to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

In 2017, Germany and France agreed to jointly develop the next-generation battle tank as a successor to the French Leclerc and German Leopard tanks, starting in 2040.

But the tank plans have faced delays amid rivalry between French and German industrial companies, and different priorities in Berlin and Paris.

In March, the two ministers announced in Berlin they had managed to unblock the stalled project by agreeing on how to split the work.

“Today’s signing is a real milestone,” Pistorius told reporters.

“This is not the tank of the future but the future of the tank,” Lecornu added.

The tank system will have cutting-edge technology that could usher in a new era in land warfare.

The MGCS will consist of not just one armored fighting vehicle but a system of manned and unmanned vehicles. It will include drones to protect the tank as well as the use of artificial intelligence and laser technology.

Funded in equal parts by Paris and Berlin and run under German management, the project was originally led by defense industry firm KNDS, a tie-up between Nexter from France and Germany’s KMW.

But the delicate balance was upset when Germany’s Rheinmetall joined the project in 2019.

Friday’s agreement designates manufacturers to be responsible for key components of the tank systems including platforms, turrets, and guns.

Talks are beginning with manufacturers to develop an initial demonstrator, a sort of pre-prototype.

“The aim is to have the contracts in place by the end of the year, which is very ambitious,” Pistorius said.

With countries like Italy keen to join, Pistorius said the project would be open to partners, “but we already need to draw up contracts” between French and German manufacturers.

The post France, Germany Sign Deal on ‘Tank of the Future’ appeared first on The Defense Post.