13 June 2016
Rheinmetall’s high-energy laser effectors at Eurosatory 2016
The Oerlikon Skyshield turret equipped with a HEL-effector instead of a conventional gun on show at Eurosatory 2016 took part in the Rheinmetall Live Laser Demonstration 2013. This event set a new standard for operational deployment of the Group’s mobile and stationary high-energy laser effectors.
Rheinmetall’s HEL effector is one part of a ground-based laser weapon system. This versatile air defence system consists of an Oerlikon Skyshield or Skyguard fire control unit for target acquisition and weapon control, coupled with an Oerlikon high-energy laser gun using a revolver gun turret equipped with HEL effectors. Each HEL effector consists of one 10 kW fibre laser and a beam-forming unit. Commercial off-
the-shelf fibre lasers were modified for an air defence role. The beam-forming unit provides diffraction-limited beam focusing, target imaging and fine tracking of the target.
By using beam-superimposing technology, Rheinmetall has concentrated the power of single laser beams into one tiny spot. This technology not only allows superimposition of multiple laser beams on a single gun platform, but also superimposition of multiple gun platforms. This enables an almost unlimited (e.g. 100kW and more) power output in line with the evolving air defence requirement. As a result, the high-energy laser gun provides efficient protection against a large spectrum of modern air threats.
Variants of the same technology are also available for ground and naval operations. For ground operations Rheinmetall has demonstrated the effectiveness of high-energy lasers in the 5 kW-class in an APC, the 20 kW class in a Boxer infantry
fighting vehicle as well as the 50 kW-class in an 8X8 truck container. For naval operations, the company combined a MLG 27 and a HEL effector of the 20 kW class, which underwent sea trials in 2015.
https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.rheinmetall-defence.com/media/editor_media/rm_defence/publicrelations/pressemitteilungen/2016/2016_06_13_rheinmetall_at_eurosatory/2016-06-13_Rheinmetall_at_Eurosatory_HEL_en.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjRzsCCh_TQAhUFppQKHTPcCN8QFgg5MAo&usg=AFQjCNEB4K0CH0uFAfjouH3K77nNb4IFvg&sig2=Dm7OWoMkmMw5S80_ad5ICw
