Jul 22 2010
Raytheon, developer of sophisticated defense and home security systems, and a U.S. Navy team have utilized an advanced combined-beam fiber laser to gun down four UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) in the flight during a sea encounter.
The targets were destroyed by utilizing the Navy’s Laser Weapon System (LaWS) that was guided by Raytheon’s sensor, the Phalanx Close-in Weapon System.
Solid-State Laser in Weapon System
The LaWS comprises six lasers that focus on the target at the same time. For testing, the Laser Weapon System was placed on a platform near the Phalanx Block 1B mount. To perform the electro-optical tracking, the Phalanx operator utilized the surface mode of the Block 1B. The operator also utilized the LaWS’ radio frequency sensors to deliver the required range data to the Laser Weapon System. After the Phalanx received the unmanned aerial vehicle, the Laser Weapon System destroyed the target.
Raytheon Missile Systems’ President, Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, stated that the encounters confirm the operational feasibility of using both LaWS and Phalanx at sea, and show the systems’ capability to track and destroy the targets strategically.