US Marines received a prototype mobile laser to combat UAVs
The command of the US Marine Corps has confirmed that the prototype of the energy weapons directional action, intended to destroy the UAV, was transferred into the hands of American Marines.
According to a statement released by the United States Marine Corps Ground Systems Office (PEO Land Systems), the so-called Compact Laser Weapons System (CLaWS) is the first ground-based laser air defense system approved by the United States Department of Defense for use by ground forces.
- declared Don Kelly, the manager of the program of ground air defense.
In recent years, the US Department of Defense has been actively developing the direction of systems of directional energy weapons (in popular parlance "lasers"), seeing in them an affordable alternative to traditional weapons.
CLaWS ("Claws") is not yet an autonomous weapon system. After passing the field tests, the system is likely to become one of the components of the UAV control complex.
This project shows how fast modern combat systems are progressing, which, thanks to rapid prototyping, shortens the path from development to production of the final product by several times.
- stressed Lieutenant Colonel Ho Lee, Manager for Advanced Land Defense Systems (GBAD) at PEO Land Systems.
In many ways, this was made possible by the integration of commercial technologies where it was possible. Available and ready-made items have reduced the production time of the prototype.
Operational use of a new laser weapon, such as the CLaWS, is fraught with difficulty. In particular, it requires approval from the Office of the Minister of Defense, as it includes various factors, such as legal checks, rules of engagement, tactical use, assessment of potential collateral damage and anthropogenic impact.
Since the Marines will be conducting a CLaWS assessment over the next few months, the GBAD office is already setting a new goal: upgrading this ground-based mobile laser.
According to a statement released by the United States Marine Corps Ground Systems Office (PEO Land Systems), the so-called Compact Laser Weapons System (CLaWS) is the first ground-based laser air defense system approved by the United States Department of Defense for use by ground forces.
The project was developed in response to the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles. We handed over a prototype CLaWS CMP to test the system and evaluate its performance in real conditions.
- declared Don Kelly, the manager of the program of ground air defense.
In recent years, the US Department of Defense has been actively developing the direction of systems of directional energy weapons (in popular parlance "lasers"), seeing in them an affordable alternative to traditional weapons.
CLaWS ("Claws") is not yet an autonomous weapon system. After passing the field tests, the system is likely to become one of the components of the UAV control complex.
Rapid prototyping reduces military acceptance
This project shows how fast modern combat systems are progressing, which, thanks to rapid prototyping, shortens the path from development to production of the final product by several times.
Typical periods for the purchase of weapons can be extremely long. But this project, from the beginning to the end - from the moment when we signed a contract with the DOTC (Consortium of Defense Weapons Technologies) to the completion of the integration of the prototype, testing, calculation training of marines and preparing systems for deployment - took about a year.
- stressed Lieutenant Colonel Ho Lee, Manager for Advanced Land Defense Systems (GBAD) at PEO Land Systems.
In many ways, this was made possible by the integration of commercial technologies where it was possible. Available and ready-made items have reduced the production time of the prototype.
Operational use of a new laser weapon, such as the CLaWS, is fraught with difficulty. In particular, it requires approval from the Office of the Minister of Defense, as it includes various factors, such as legal checks, rules of engagement, tactical use, assessment of potential collateral damage and anthropogenic impact.
Since the Marines will be conducting a CLaWS assessment over the next few months, the GBAD office is already setting a new goal: upgrading this ground-based mobile laser.
- Press service of the USMC
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