Truck-mounted laser weapon

Boeing has been awarded a contract worth approximately $7m to begin developing the initial phase for a truck-mounted laser weapon system that destroys rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds.

Under the High Energy Laser Technology Demonstrator (HEL TD) Phase I contract, Boeing will develop and complete a preliminary design of a rugged beam control system (BCS) on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck.

The contract, awarded by the US Army, contains options that, if exercised, will call for Boeing to build and test a significant component of the HEL TD system, comprised of the BCS integrated on a vehicle, and refine requirements for the entire HEL TD system. The options would increase the total program contract cost to approximately $50m.

The objective of the HEL TD program is to demonstrate that a mobile, solid-state laser weapon system can effectively counter rocket, artillery and mortar projectiles.

‘We believe this is the next step for developing a weapon system that can change the face of the battlefield,’ said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems.