Raytheon Technologies has recently delivered its fourth combat-ready laser weapon system, named “H4,” to the US Air Force, marking the company’s eighth delivery to the US Department of Defense.
H4 is a 10-kilowatt laser constructed to US military specifications, featuring a stand-alone configuration that allows mobility and deployment in any location.
During the previous autumn, in a series of continuous live-fire exercises at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center and Raytheon Technologies conducted the Air Force’s Test and Assessment plan on the inaugural palletized high-energy laser weapon.
According to the company, through multiple live-fire exercises, H4 demonstrated its capability to acquire, track, and destroy drone targets in various attack scenarios.
The H4 consists of a high-energy laser weapon module, a long-range EO/IR sensor that serves as both the beam director and target acquisition system, as well as integrated thermal control, internal electrical power, and targeting software.
The weapon system is operated using a laptop and a controller, and it has the ability to integrate with existing air defense and command and control systems, the company stated.
Designed to be compact and portable, the H4 laser weapon system is capable of fitting into the bed of a pickup truck.
“Anywhere the Air Force sees a threat from drones, they now have four proven laser weapons that can be deployed to stop asymmetrical threats,” said Michael Hofle, senior director of High-Energy Lasers at Raytheon Technologies.
“Whether it’s on a fixed location, a flatbed or even a pickup, these laser weapons are compact, rugged and ready to go. That’s why we’re proud to support the Air Force’s effort to provide this new tech to the personnel who need it in the field, who can trust and be confident in the system’s capabilities,” he added.
Raytheon says it delivered the palletized laser weapon system from the laser weapon factory in McKinney, Texas, within a nine-month period from order receipt.
