LightNews — News, ranked by scholars

Zach

@thrustwr.bsky.social

For comparison, here is a 10 kW laser system from Raytheon.

November 10, 2024 at 2:42 AM

The Defence Blog

@defence-blog.com

British Army evaluates Raytheon laser weapon system

defence-blog.com/british-army...

British Army evaluates Raytheon laser weapon system

Raytheon UK, a division of RTX's Raytheon business, has announced the successful live-firing of its High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) in collaboration with the British Army. Conducted at a milit...

defence-blog.com

December 11, 2024 at 1:03 PM

Breaking Defense

@breakingdefense.com

RTX’s HELWS anti-drone laser weapon looking for new use cases
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/07/rtxs-helws-anti-drone-laser-weapon-looking-for-new-use-cases/

RTX’s HELWS anti-drone laser weapon looking for new use cases

"Because of the size and weight of it, it's relatively easy to move and fit to different platforms. And so that's certainly been discussed a lot," Raytheon exec Alex Rose-Parfitt told Breaking Defense.

breakingdefense.com

July 21, 2025 at 4:31 PM

The Defence Blog

@defence-blog.com

UK successfully tests Raytheon’s laser gun

defence-blog.com/uk-successfu...

UK successfully tests Raytheon’s laser gun

Raytheon UK, in collaboration with the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), has successfully tested the High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) in...

defence-blog.com

July 22, 2024 at 4:05 PM

Labrys of Aëlla

@aellalabrys.bsky.social

Ja, das HELWS. Schmilzt den Kunststoff oder kann die Akkus entzünden. Die Amis haben auch schon was in der Art. Angeblich sogar sehr kostengünstig. Aber da habe ich mich nicht mit beschäftigt. Nur mal einen Artikel gelesen.

April 30, 2025 at 7:16 PM

cacodemum.

@viper-fox.com

Also I have a very enjoyably large document on how Raytheon's HELWS systems work that I recently got to slide the tiniest tidbit of into the stobweek drabble for day 4.

This is my curse. Researching too much.

April 4, 2025 at 12:29 AM

Sean McKnight

@ynot1989.bsky.social

This won't last forever. Energy weapons for SHORAD C-UAS are already being tested that will be able to disable even autonomous drone swarms, but not every country will be able to field these weapons at scale. In fact this would likely erase the potential for poorer states to level the playing field.

Stryker fitted with a Leonidas high-powered microwave (HPM) weapon.

High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) mounted on the back of a Polaris MRZR.

June 12, 2026 at 3:10 PM

Matthew Newell 🇺🇦

@matthewnewell.bsky.social

UK has Dragonfire and Raytheon’s HELWS. So it's safe to assume other systems are available or will be. Thanks once again for reaffirming your ignorance.

Again, what's your solution, why do you think you know more than a country's Defence department?

Why not put yourself forward as an adviser?

April 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM

Tomas Ström

@hapsis.bsky.social

breakingdefense.com/2025/07/rtxs...

RTX's HELWS anti-drone laser weapon looking for new use cases - Breaking Defense

"Because of the size and weight of it, it's relatively easy to move and fit to different platforms. And so that's certainly been discussed a lot," Raytheon exec Alex Rose-Parfitt told Breaking Defense...

breakingdefense.com

July 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM

Magazyn Militarny MILMAG

@milmagpl.bsky.social

Brytyjska armia używa laserowego systemu HELWS przeciwko bezzałogowcom
milmag.pl/brytyjska-ar...

Brytyjska armia używa laserowego systemu HELWS przeciwko bezzałogowcom – MILMAG

Brytyjska spółka Raytheon UK (część amerykańskiej korporacji RTX) przeprowadziła pierwsze strzelania wspólnie z British Army do bezzałogowców za pomocą demonstratora technologii systemu broni laserowe...

milmag.pl

December 11, 2024 at 3:00 PM

Dr Phil Birch

@docphil.bsky.social

New Post: Rayethon anti drone laser weapon demonstration https://buff.ly/3Dgpq8X buff.ly/4iBwjlA

Speedy and successful: Army's high-energy laser weapon system shoots down drones

The HELWS, which was fitted to a Wolfhound vehicle, managed to track and engage a number of moving aerial targets for the first time.

www.forcesnews.com

December 13, 2024 at 9:39 AM

Rajan Naidu 📎 Ⓥ

@rajannaidu.bsky.social

#WarAgainstThePeople
#JeffHalper

#ApartheidRegime #Israel
#SettlerColonialism
#Expansionism
#Palestinians

Acronyms
AAM
ABM
AEW
AIFV.
AIPAC
APC
APAM
ATT
BANG
BMS
BRICS-MINT
C'ISTAR
CAR
CEV
COIN
COMINT
CQC
DARPA
DASH
DIME
Air-to-Air Missile
Anti-Ballistic Missile
Airborne Early Warning system
Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicle the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committe
Armored Personnel Carrier
Anti-Personnel/Anti-Material munition
Arms Trade Treaty to promote transparency and accountability in the arms trade, signed but nor ratified by Israel
Bits, Atoms, Neurons and Genes, a branch of nanotechnology, including nanoweapons
A Battle Management System that links soldiers, their field commanders and Command Post staff Counterhegemonic bloc: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, joined by Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey
Capabilities built into high-tech weapons: command, control, communications, computers plus Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Central Asian Republic Combat Engineering Vehicle Counterinsurgency operations
Communication Intelligence Close Quarter Combat, especially in urban warfare The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Projects Agenc;
"turning science fiction into reality"
Elbit's Display and Sight Helmet, part of its HMD (Helmet-Mounted Display) and HUD (Head-Up Cockpit Display) system
Dense Inert Metal Explosive, a bomblet that has a relatively small but highly destructive blast radius

ELINT/ESM
EMP
EO
EW
FMF
GMTI
HELWS
IAF
IAI
ICBM
IDF
IHL
IMI
IMINT INSAT
ISR
JDAM
LASHAB
LEEP
LEO
MALE UAV
MARS
MARV
MAVS
MID

based on exploding such chemically inert materials as tungsten above the heads of targets, and incinerates them
Electronic Intelligence and Electronic Support
Measures
Electromagnetic Pulse bomb strike capability creating a short, focused and highly destructive burst of electromagnetic energy Electro-optically guided weapons
Electronic Warfare
Foreign Military Financing (US)
A Ground Moving Target Indicator High-Energy Laser Weapon System
Israeli Air Force
Israel Aerospace Industries
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Israel Defense Force
International Humanitarian Law
Israel Military Industries
Image Intelligence
Nano-satellites launched for testing new industrial components under real outer-space conditions
Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
Joint Direct Attack Munitions
The Hebrew acronym for l'khima al shetakh banui or
"warfare on built-up terrain"
Law Enforcement Exchange Program, in which the private Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs brings American law enforcement officials to Israel and vice versa
Low Earth Orbiting satellite
Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance drone
Multi-purpose Aiming Reflex Sight
Miniature Autonomous Robotic Vehicle
Micro-Air Vehicles, also called entomopters; bug-sized devices that fly Militarized Interstate Disputes

War Against the People

MIRV
MISSILE Complex
Multiple Independently-targetable Recentry Velich ballistic warheads that can be dispensed and se against multiple targets
A combined system of Military, Internal Security.
MPRS
Surveillance, Intelligence and Law Enforcemen, do key elements of pacification
Multi-Purpose Rifle System, which uses the sume technology as fire control systems of advanced tanks, making any assault rifle a much diversified weapon system
NBC
NBIC
Nuclear, Biological, Chemical forms of weapons Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology and Cognitive science, emerging fields of nano research, including weaponry
OIC
OPSATI
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
A next-generation optical observation satellite for reconnaissance purposes, developed by lATs MET
Space Division
OPTI
PGS
Occupied Palestinian Territories
Prompt Global Strike Mission, an effort to develop a system that can deliver a precision conventional weapon strike anywhere in the world within one hour
QDR
Quadriennial Defense Review, the Pentagon's report every four years of its policies, strategies and plans
QHSR
Quadriennial Homeland Security Review, also a Pentagon report published every four years of its Homeland Security policies, strategies and plans
QME
RCWS
RMA
Qualitative Military Edge
Remote Controlled Weapon Station
Revolution in Military Affairs, network-centric warfare
RPV
SALW
SAM
SAR
Remotely Piloted Vehicles
Small Arms and Light Weapons
Surface-to-Air Missile
Synthetic Aperture Radar, a type of radar that creates 2D or 3D images of an object, primarily landscapes

SIBAT
The marketing arms of the Israeli Ministry of Defense; published the Israeli Defense and Homeland
SIGINT
Security Directory
Signal Intelligence
SIPRI
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, provides data and analysis on conflict, armaments. arms control and disarmament
SWAT Teams
Special Weapons and Tactics, law enforcement units, which use military-style light weapons and specialized tactics in high-risk operations that fall outside of the capabilities of regular, uniformed police
TA
Target Acquisition
UAS
Unmanned Aerial Systems, UAVs plus ground stations and other system elements
UAV
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or drone

UACV
Unmanned Aerial Combat Vehicle
UGV
Unmanned Ground Vehicle
USV
Unmanned Surface Vehicle
WINBMS
Weapon-Integrated Battle Management System
Acronyms

June 12, 2026 at 8:59 AM

defensereport.bsky.social

@defensereport.bsky.social

General Atomics Unveils Laser Combat Module for MQ-9B Drone

defensemirror.com/news/39283/G...

#MQ9B #LaserWeapon #DroneDefense #GeneralAtomics #HELWS #MilitaryTech #DirectedEnergy #RedSea #UkraineConflict #AirDefense #DefenseTechnology #Drones #Tryzub #CruiseMissileDefense

General Atomics Unveils Laser Combat Module for MQ-9B Drone

New 300-kilowatt system offers drone defense without costly missiles

defensemirror.com

April 14, 2025 at 9:28 AM

ercanceviz.bsky.social

@ercanceviz.bsky.social

İsrail, İHA ve SİHA’lara Karşı Mücadele Edecek Yeni Lazer Silahını Devreye Aldı: İşte Özellikleri!

Günümüzde hava savunma sistemleri, özellikle ucuz maliyetli İHA ve SİHA saldırıları karşısında oldukça pahalı ve hantal kalabiliyor. Bir drone'u düşürmek için binlerce dolarlık füzelerin kullanılması…

İsrail, İHA ve SİHA’lara Karşı Mücadele Edecek Yeni Lazer Silahını Devreye Aldı: İşte Özellikleri!

Günümüzde hava savunma sistemleri, özellikle ucuz maliyetli İHA ve SİHA saldırıları karşısında oldukça pahalı ve hantal kalabiliyor. Bir drone'u düşürmek için binlerce dolarlık füzelerin kullanılması askeri stratejileri zorlarken İsrail, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems tarafından geliştirilen Iron Beam ile bu dengeleri değiştireceğine inanıyor. Iron Beam, yüksek enerjili bir lazer silah sistemi (HELWS) olarak, hava tehditlerini ışık hızında etkisiz hâle getirme yeteneğine sahip.

ercanceviz.com.tr

December 30, 2025 at 12:43 PM

Magazyn Militarny MILMAG

@milmagpl.bsky.social

Okrętowa broń laserowa Rheinmetall i MBDA bliżej gotowości operacyjnej
milmag.pl/okretowa-bro...

Okrętowa broń laserowa Rheinmetall i MBDA bliżej gotowości operacyjnej – MILMAG

Niemiecka grupa Rheinematll AG poinformowała o postępach programu demonstratora systemu wysokoenergetycznej broni laserowej HELWS, realizowanego wspólnie z MBDA, na rzecz niemieckiej Marynarki Wojenne...

milmag.pl

October 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM

Magazyn Militarny MILMAG

@milmagpl.bsky.social

Izrael: Potwierdzony debiut bojowy przeciwlotniczego systemu broni laserowej Iron Beam
milmag.pl/izrael-potwi...

Izrael: Potwierdzony debiut bojowy przeciwlotniczego systemu broni laserowej Iron Beam – MILMAG

Izraelska spółka Rafael Advanced Defense Systems potwierdziła, że przeciwlotniczy system broni laserowej dużej mocy (HELWS) Iron Beam (aka. Magen Or) zadebiutował w boju w ramach Sił Obronnych Izraela...

milmag.pl

May 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM

Longtail News

@longtail-news.bsky.social

Feed: "You searched for -[jdsupra - Breaking Defense"
By: Aaron Mehta on Monday, July 21, 2025

RTX’s HELWS anti-drone laser weapon looking for new use cases

"Because of the size and weight of it, it's relatively easy to move and fit to different platforms. And so that's certainly been discussed a lot," Raytheon exec Alex Rose-Parfitt told Breaking Defense.

breakingdefense.com

July 22, 2025 at 11:17 AM

Breaking Defense [Unofficial]

@breakingdefense.com.web.brid.gy

RTX’s HELWS anti-drone laser weapon looking for new use cases

“Because of the size and weight of it, it’s relatively easy to move and fit to different platforms. And so that’s certainly been discussed a lot,” Raytheon exec Alex Rose-Parfitt told Breaking Defense.

breakingdefense.com

July 21, 2025 at 9:38 PM

Seth J. Frantzman

@sfrantzman.bsky.social

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems says it "will present its newly developed IRON BEAM laser director alongside its full family of High-Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) at the Paris Air Show." (Photo: Rafael)

June 4, 2025 at 7:48 PM

Thiard News@F4F

@newsen.bsky.social

British Army Successfully Tests RTX's Advanced High-Energy Laser Weapon System#London #United_Kingdom #Raytheon #HELWS #British_Army

British Army Successfully Tests RTX's Advanced High-Energy Laser Weapon System

The British Army has successfully tested RTX's High-Energy Laser Weapon System, marking a significant advancement in modern defense technology.

third-news.com

December 11, 2024 at 9:08 AM

dailydefense

@dailydefense.bsky.social

General Atomics Unveils Laser Combat Module for MQ-9B Drone

defensemirror.com/news/39283/G...

#MQ9B #LaserWeapon #DroneDefense #GeneralAtomics #HELWS #MilitaryTech #DirectedEnergy #RedSea #UkraineConflict #AirDefense #DefenseTechnology #Drones #Tryzub #CruiseMissileDefense

General Atomics Unveils Laser Combat Module for MQ-9B Drone

New 300-kilowatt system offers drone defense without costly missiles

defensemirror.com

April 14, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Espada & Escudo

@espada-e-escudo.org

Ensaio de campo pelo 16.º Regº de Artilharia do Exército Britânico de sistema arma laser de alta-energia, Raytheon HELWS, contra "drones", no Campo de Testes de Tiro de Radnor, Gales, Reino-Unido, a 29Out2024. Viatura blindada 6x6 "Wolfhound". Mais info espada-e-escudo.blogspot.com/2024/12/ensa...