German Defense Firm Shows Off Drone Killing Laser

[Sugarcane]

Isn’t defense technology cool? What could make a laser even better? How about adding a “35mm revolver cannon” or anti-air programmable fuse cannon next to the laser and placing it on a mobile platform. This dual threat weapon system could be lethal against enemy mortars, rockets, artillery, planes and helicopters. I’m glad the Germans are a NATO member and ally.

(BBC) – A laser weapons system that can shoot down two drones at a distance of over a mile has been demonstrated by Rheinmetall Defence.

The German defence firm used the high-energy laser equipment to shoot fast-moving drones at a distance.

The system, which uses two laser weapons, was also used to cut through a steel girder a kilometre away.

The company plans to make the laser weapons system mobile and to integrate automatic cannon.

The 50kW laser weapons system used radar and optical systems to detect and track two incoming drones, the company said. The nose-diving drones were flying at 50 metres per second, and were shot down when they reached a programmed fire sector.

Weather trials

The weapons system locked onto the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by using radar for a rough approximation of the location of the targets, then fine-tuned the tracking using an optical system.

The high-energy laser system was used to cut through a 15mm-thick steel girder, and to shoot out of the air a steel ball designed to mimic a mortar round.

The company has tested the laser system in a variety of weather conditions, including snow, sunlight, and rain.

Rheinmetall plans to test its laser weapons mounted on different vehicles and to integrate a 35mm revolver cannon into it.

Quote via: BBC News - Rheinmetall demos laser that can shoot down drones

Besides adding a hi-tech anti-air cannon, the 50kW laser has an exciting future planned for it.

(RHEINMETALL DEFENCE) – Rheinmetall plans to set up a company-financed 60kW technology demonstrator in 2013 with greater laser output. Besides laser weapon stations, the plan calls for integrating 35mm Ahead Revolver Guns into the system. This will enable Rheinmetall engineers to identify and study possible synergies between laser weapons and automatic cannon.

Finally, the concept for a mobile HEL weapon, which was successfully implemented with 1kW functional model mounted on a special TM170 vehicle, will also be pursued, this time with different mobile platforms. The objective here is to explore the parameters for integrating an HEL weapon on vehicles operating in the open.

Quote via: Flying colours: Rheinmetall successfully tests 50kW high-energy laser weapon

GERMAN DEFENSE FIRM SHOWS OFF DRONE KILLING LASER. | GILL REPORT - The official website of the Steve Gill Show

 

[Gentelman]

woooo i thought Americans will be first to reveal such lasers...
they are also working on such things back 2007...

 

[Ayush]

nice.the germans have done a great job.

 

[trident2010]

Is PAF/PA planning to buy few of those for AF borders?

 

[octopusonhead]

Germans are always doing very well in the high technology and manufacturing sectors, hopefully they pump more funds into researching laser weapons. It will be cool to see what they can come up with even further on in the future.