
Germany based Rheinmetall Defence continues to develop its high-energy laser (HEL) technology. The company recently announced a successful test of its new 50kW high-energy weapon.
The 50kW HEL weapon was able to cut through a 15mm-thick steel girder at a distance of 1,000 meters. It also successfully shot down nose-diving target drones at a range of two kilometers. A third test involved detected and destroying a small ballistic target. The laser weapon succeeded in detecting, tracking and destroying a 82 mm (3.2 inch) steel ball traveling at 50 m/sec.
Rheinmetall is working on making the weapon more powerful. The company says “nothing stands in the way of a future HEL weapon system with a 100kW output.” The company is also working on making these laser weapons mobile.
BBC News notes that other government and defense companies are also developing laster weapons, such as Raytheon.
Photo: Rheinmetall
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