Boeing Continues Work On Developing High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator Phase II High-Power Testing

Boeing confirmed that it would continue work on developing truck mounted directed energy system that improves warfighters' ability to counter unmanned aerial threats. Under the High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) Phase II High-Power Testing follow-on contract, Boeing will counter rockets, artillery, mortars and incorporates a 10-kilowatt, solid-state laser with the HEL MD system. And this reduces the risk for future high-power laser integration. Mike Rinn, Boeing Directed Energy Systems vice president and program director, said, "The Boeing HEL MD program is applying the best of solid-state laser technology to ensure the Army has speed-of-light capability to defend against rockets, artillery, mortars, and unmanned aerial threats both today and into the future. High power testing represents a critical step forward for this innovative directed energy system". “Phase II will allow to build on the great work we have accomplished over the past several years with SMDC," said Blaine Beardsley, HEL MD program manager for Boeing. "Our team is eager to demonstrate that this revolutionary system is capable of saving lives and ready for the battlefield” he added. The field test tests will demonstrate the system's ability to acquire, track, damage and defeat threat-representative targets.