Now, Raytheon and the Dromatics team of Loma have entered the competition for the R&D project of the US Army's 100-kilowatt high-energy green laser pointer weapon.
The US Army is pushing for directed energy weapons and combat capability at full speed. It plans to select one of the two bidders in early 2019 to integrate its laser weapon system with the Army's medium-sized tactical vehicle (FMTV). This work will eventually be fully tested in the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in 2022.
Last month, Raytheon said it had received a $10 million contract to develop a laser weapon system prototype for the US Army's high-energy green laser pointer tactical vehicle demonstration project.
On August 6, Dynetics issued a statement that it has won a second $10 million contract with partner Loma to develop a laser weapon system prototype for the Army's HELTDD project. If the laser weapon is finally integrated with FMTV, the total contract amount is expected to reach 130 million US dollars.
The HELTVD project is a science and technology validation project to add laser weapons to the Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability Project 2 for intercepting rockets, artillery shells, mortar shells, and targets such as cruise missiles and drones. . The laser weapons that the project plans to use are being enthusiastically sought after by the various services because conventional interceptors are quickly exhausted and expensive. According to the power supply situation, the green laser pointer weapon can achieve near-infinite design, and the combat cost is much lower than the missile.