NP Aerospace progresses Raytheon air defence integration on Wolfhound

NP Aerospace has announced it is one of the key partners on the UK MOD’s Laser Directed Energy Weapon Land Demonstrator programme.

The Coventry firm will work with Raytheon UK to progress integration of Raytheon’s High-Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) onto the Wolfhound vehicle.

Raytheon UK recently received its first HELWS unit from the US for testing in the UK. Since then, the vehicle engineering team at NP Aerospace’s facility have been leading the integration work, with mobility trials scheduled for later this year.

Wolfhound is one of the UK MOD’s protected mobility fleet managed by NP Aerospace.

It was selected for integration due to its class leading capabilities and offroad performance potential via the new XC mobility architecture upgrade.

The 15-kW laser Raytheon HELWS system is the latest product in the UK to look at potential defence against aerial threats such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). UK MOD who are leading the programme, last month announced the successful firing of a similar system.

David Petheram, Managing Director & Senior Vice President, NP Aerospace Vehicle Systems, Services and Spares, comments: “NP Aerospace is pleased to be supporting the development of the UK’s Short Range Air Defence capability. As engineering authority for the UK MOD protected mobility fleet, we have in depth knowledge of vehicle platforms and wide range of associated technologies. The Wolfhound is an extremely capable tactical supply vehicle which now offers an advanced defensive role by being able to easily carry the air defence system in new environments.”