Shadow Secretary of Defense John Healy asked. I queried the Secretary of Defense about any evidence from DE&S.DE&S is negotiating a deal to put lasers into the hands of the Royal Army and Royal Navy. Please refer to the press release published September 14, 2021. The Department plans the first test of a directed energy weapon on board a Type 23 frigate. Secretary of State James Cartledge ( Department of Defense) responded. “DoD” Announces three contracts in 2021. How to sustain and integrate directed energy weapons into complex platforms to inform future capability decisions. Demonstration of energy weapons capabilities aimed at improving the military’s knowledge and understanding of.
These are ambitious projects in both time and scope. With specific T23 demonstrator aircraft in order to focus resources on the broader directed energy weapons program. As outlined in the 2023 Integrated Review Update. The completion of the deal occurred early, with live fire being conducted from land. This is in stark contrast to the original ambitions expressed a few years ago. When the Royal Navy planned to pioneer laser weapon trials this year. In the testing process, the system was designed to actively detect, track, attack, and engage unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
However, recent changes in emphasis, as reflected in the Congressional response, suggest a reassessment of strategy. The decision to complete the Type 23 frigate demonstration project early and also allocate resources to the broader directed energy weapons program realigns priorities in the Department of Defense’s approach to integrating and advancing DEW technology into the Navy’s operational context. That doesn’t mean they’ve given up; it’s just a change of pace.
At least the land side of the test remains intact. The recent successful test firing of the Dragonfire Laser Guided Energy Weapon (LDEW) in Scotland took place at the MoD’s Hebrides Range and was the first high-power firing of a laser weapon against an air target in the UK. Additionally, naval plans should incorporate future live ammunition tests conducted by land-based demonstrators.
