The laser air defense system "fell to the taste" of the American Air Force. April 9 portal c4isrnet.com He reported that the US Air Force has ordered Raytheon to develop an upgraded HELWS installation.
The new contract, worth $15.5 million, includes the delivery of one laser system. It will be built on the basis of a combat laser developed under the HELWS program, but with a number of improvements. Earlier, Raytheon has already delivered three prototypes to the US Air Force for testing.
Installing HELWS based on an army buggy
Image source: c4isrnet.com
The characteristics of the new installation were not disclosed. At the same time, it is known that the first samples of HELWS can hit small drones at a distance of up to 3 km, affecting them with a powerful laser beam and focusing on the target for 5 or less seconds. Potentially, HELWS installations will be able to protect US Air Force bases from small drones.
The purchase of HELWS is carried out as part of the large-scale program Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment (MFIX), according to the results of which the US Department of Defense plans to provide troops with effective and inexpensive means to combat small aircraft.
