MBDA Germany yesterday said the company’s high-energy laser demonstrator was used to demonstrate the complete deployment sequence in countering rockets, artillery and mortar shells (C-RAM) for the first time on Oct. 9.
In another step toward a laser weapon system for air defense, the laser demonstrator, using 40 kW of laser power, successfully acted on airborne targets at a range of over 2,000 meters.
For these tests, MBDA Germany’s laser demonstrator was equipped with a new, improved performance, significantly more compact and lighter optical system that was integrated in a transportable container, the company said in a statement.
During the tests, the illumination and effect laser was pre-targeted using a radar (SPEXER™ 2000) and an IR optronics system (MEOS II) supplied by EADS’ Cassidian. A multi-stage control system, incorporating an in-house developed image processing system, was used to lock onto the target at close range.
To serve as targets, the MBDA test team used artillery shell models towed in a wide variety of flight paths at an altitude of 1,000 meters. Function control and monitoring as well as data recording, security technology and visualization were all set up within a transportable fire control center and demonstrated together with the laser during the tests.
The United States also is working on a laser program against the same C-RAM threat set. The basic research program is working to develop a high energy laser mobile demonstrator (HEL MD) to put together a pre-prototype for a major weapon system. The Army and Boeing [BA] will test the 10-kW laser against a variety of targets in the near future at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The laser demonstrator and subsystems are being integrated onto an Oshkosh [OSK] Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) (Defense Daily, Aug. 29).
The MBDA Germany tests were conducted at a federal test site in Oberjettenberg, Germany. The results reached this year are a continuation of a series of successful laser tests carried out in 2010 and 2011.
“Having already successfully boosted laser power to 40 kW in the first half of this year, we were able to take the next major step on the road toward a high-energy laser weapon system for close-in defense,” said Peter Heilmeier, market and business development director at MBDA Germany. “In so doing, we have further extended our leading role in Europe in the area of laser applications for military use.”
Over 50 guests, including representatives from the German Ministry of Defense, the Bundeswehr, the BAAINBw, the European Defense Agency, the Federal Criminal Police Office, the GSG 9 unit of the Federal Police Force and various institutions and businesses were present to witness the successful results.
“I’m pleased that our progress is receiving so much attention from the customer as well as from others in the sector. With the flexible application possibilities of laser technology, we are not only addressing all armed services, but also attracting interest from outside the Bundeswehr,” said W. Stammler, MBDA Germany’s director of Operations. “Now we want to optimize the system step-by-step, increase its power while making it more compact and demonstrate its various system applications.”
BAE Systems and EADS each hold 37.5 percent of MBDA, while Finmeccanica owns 25 percent.