In a press release on Mar 25, HII announced that its Mission Technologies division has been selected to develop an open architecture High-Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system for the US Army.
The contract was awarded by the US Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) and HII will now test and develop a HEL prototype that can acquire, track & destroy Groups 1-3 UAS. The HEL system will be suitable for use in multi-domain operations & capable of fixed-site defense operations and/ or integration onto land vehicles.
Grant Hagen, president of the Mission Technologies’ Warfare Systems Group, said in response to the award:
“We look forward to collaborating with the RCCTO on this important effort that will protect the warfighter with an affordable counter-UAS solution”
In addition to providing the prototype system itself, HII will also provide the date required to compete key components and subsystems. According to HII, combined with the system’s Modular Open Systems Approach architecture, the data will support the Army’s objectives of affordability, interoperability, scalability, supply chain resilience and rapid innovation.
Crucially, the system will enable the Army to update subsystems and software throughout development and employment which will provide important flexibility and align with US DOD’s push towards the acquisition of adaptable capabilities.
The award further demonstrates the extent to which HEL systems are viewed as a key capability in mitigating the threat posed to armed forces by UAS
The contract was awarded by RCCTO with the eventual goal of transitioning to the US Army’s Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space which houses the US Army’s C-sUAS Product Office.
In a brief last August, Major General Frank Lozano, PEO Missiles and Space outlined the below as future opportunities/ competitions/ RFIs for industry:
- Frequent integration testing of C-sUAS portfolio systems
- Integration of mobiles C-sUAS mission equipment on platforms smaller than Stryker
- Tentative Next-Generation C-UAS competition FY25
- Upcoming RFI for handheld/dismounted systems and Mobile Flat Panel Radar competitions to support FY25 test events
As the HII contract and future opportunities demonstrates, the US Army remains committed to expanding its C-UAS capabilities and this can only be expected to continue given the field’s protection from budget cuts at the Pentagon.
