MBDA Tests Latest High–Energy Laser Demonstrator

Militaries around the world are turning their attention to laser powered weapons with full force and have begun mass scale production and development of high energy lasers. MBDA Germany announced Tuesday that it has achieved a power of 40 KW using its high-energy laser demonstrator during a laser firing campaign. The laser power generated by patented beam coupling of fibre lasers was successfully demonstrated for the first time in the world. In the target tracking and firing tests, MBDA Germany demonstrated performance features such as the burning of mortar shells in just a few seconds. The laser with a power of 40 kW also pierced 40 mm thick steel plates in a few seconds. Target tracking runs that were demonstrated in previous trials were also successfully repeated. “High-power laser weapons can soon provide an answer to conventional and asymmetric threats in military missions,” explains Peter Heilmeier, Head of Market and Business Development MBDA Germany. “They can contribute greatly to protecting our troops. Laser weapons are characterised by precision at long ranges, minimum operating costs and the avoidance of collateral damage". In 2012, the U.S Navy announced its plans to induct a 100 kW laser weapon could be used on board a navy ship by 2016 $110 million and has further plans to widen such “directed energy” systems. In 2011, India announced its plan to indigenously develop futuristic high power laser weapons or directed energy weapons (DEWs). Details of the project are still unclear. Meanwhile, Russia has begun developing powerful airborne lasers capable of shooting down hostile aircraft and incoming missiles. In 2011, MBDA Germany became the first company in Europe to achieve a power of 10 kW with a good laser beam quality. The tracking of dynamic objects and the effects on the object were demonstrated over a distance of more than 2,300 m and an altitude difference of 1,000 m in real environmental conditions.