Laser weapon test-fired from British Army Wolfhound armoured vehicle in UK first

A Raytheon High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) has been mounted on a British Army combat vehicle and successfully test-fired.

Using similar technology to the Royal Navy DragonFire laser, but designed for the Army, this new weapon is a lightweight portable system that can be fitted to a vehicle such as the Wolfhound and used to counteract drone threats.

"We have proven that the Raytheon High-Energy Laser Weapon System can track and engage targets whilst mounted on a vehicle," said James Gray, the chief executive and managing director of Raytheon UK.

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The tests, which were conducted at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory range at Porton Down, saw the laser weapon fired at full power from the Wolfhound armoured truck.

It is also the first of its kind to be fired from a land vehicle in the UK.

While Raytheon's HELWS has recorded more than 40,000 test hours and has reportedly downed more than 400 targets, the variant used in these trials was created for drone warfare.

The Royal Navy has also tested a Laser Directed Energy Weapon (LDEW) of its own, known as DragonFire.

Defence Secretary John Healey said he intended to continue the "important work begun under the previous government", like HELWS, and take it forward in the interest of national security.

"That is why we are renewing important partnerships with industry and continuing to push technological boundaries," he explained.

"This will drive prosperity and create skilled jobs across the country."