A Laser Weapon System Preliminary Design Underway from Raytheon

By TOC On Jul 6, 2018

MCKINNEY, Texas, the USA (BulgarianMilitary.com), July 6, 2018, Author: Galina Zdravkova, Photo credit: en.wikipedia.org

The photo shows a Oshkosh-produced M1089 A1P2 MTV wrecker in A-kit configuration.

A 100-kW class laser weapon system preliminary design is being developed by Raytheon – a technology and innovation leader specializing in defence, civil government and cyber security solutions. The goal is the weapon system to be integrated on-board the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) used by the U.S. Army. That was announced by the company on 2nd July, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

The contract, under which Raytheon is developing the laser weapon system, is worth $10 million. It has been awarded under the High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstration (HEL TVD) programme of the U.S. Army. The science and technology demonstration programme, HEL TVD, is part of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 initiative of the U.S. Army.

After the fulfilment of the second option of the HEL TVD programme, the Army will award one company a system development and demonstration contract for building and installing a weapon system on the FMTVs. The decision related to a $130 million system, development and demonstration contract is expected to be taken at the beginning of 2019.

“The beauty of this system is that it’s self-contained. Multi-spectral targeting sensors, fibre-combined lasers, power and thermal sub-systems are incorporated in a single package. This system is being designed to knock out rockets, artillery or mortar fire or small drones,” commented Roy Azevedo, Vice President of intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance systems at Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems business unit.

The FMTVs are vehicles, fielded in 1996 for the first time. They are derivatives of the Austrian 12 M 18 truck, but modified so that to meet the requirements of the U.S. Army. The FMTVs vary by payload and mission requirements.

The Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles was initially manufactured by Stewart and Stevenson (1996-2006). Then, from 2006 to 2007 they were manufactured by Armor Holdings, after which, until 2011, the current BAE Systems Platforms & Services dealt with their production. As of the moment they are manufactured by Oshkosh Corporation.

BulgarianMilitary.com