Boeing Demonstrates Counter-UAV Laser Weapon

Boeing has demonstrated the ability of mobile laser weapon systems to track and destroy small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)In US Air Force-sponsored tests.

During the tests, the mobile active targeting resource for integrated experiments (MATRIX), has been used as a single, high-brightness laser beam to shoot down five UAVs at various ranges.

MATRIX is a mobile, trailer-mounted test bed that integrates existing test-range radar, developed under a under a previous Air Force Research Laboratory contract.

Boeing also test-fired a lightweight 25mm machine gun from the Laser Avenger platform as a part of the counter-UAV demonstration to show the hybrid directed energy / kinetic energy capability against UAV threats.

The Laser Avenger integrates a directed-energy weapon in addition to the existing kinetic weapons on an Avenger air defence system developed by Combat Systems.