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The state-of-the-art weapons systems, known as Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), are powered solely by electricity and operate without ammunition.
The systems could be fuelled by a vehicle’s engine or a generator, significantly reducing their operating costs and providing unprecedented flexibility on the frontline.
In a Prior Information Notice (PIN) published this week, the MOD announced it is seeking to develop three new DEW demonstrators to explore the potential of the technology and accelerate its introduction onto the battlefield.
- United Kingdom-London: Weapons, ammunition and associated parts
2019/S 132-323391
Prior information notice
This notice is for prior information only
Supplies
II.1.4) Short description:
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) plans to invest in a range of National Directed Energy Weapon Demonstrators. As part of the MOD’s ‘Novel Weapons Programme’, these Capability Demonstrators will provide UK armed forces with first hand Directed Energy Weapons experience; enabling them to better understand and explore the potential that Directed Energy could provide on the battlefields of the future and accelerate the introduction of Directed Energy Weapons into the UK armed Forces.
II.1.5) Estimated total value
Value excluding VAT: 130 000 000.00 GBP
https://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTIC ... T.rss_ev=aII.2.4) Description of the procurement:
The demonstrators will include:
— a high energy laser weapon on-board a ship for air and surface defence applications,
— a high energy laser weapon on a land vehicle for ground based air defence applications including countering unmanned air systems and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems,
— a high-power radio frequency weapon on a land vehicle for countering unmanned air systems and counter mobility applications.
Building on technology in this area, these demonstrators will place these innovative capabilities ‘into the hands of the user’ allowing them to better understand the effects that can be achieved, how they can use Directed Energy Weapons and how to operate them alongside other elements of UK armed forces. Through significant trials and experimentation campaigns, the MOD will seek to inform future military requirements and de-risk both technology and capability understanding.
II.2.14) Additional information
These demonstrators are part of the MOD's ‘Novel Weapons Programme’ which seeks to prepare Defence for the introduction of these transformative technologies.
There is no guarantee of any contract coming into existence as a result of this Prior Information Notice (PIN). This PIN is issued for information purposes only.
II.3) Estimated date of publication of contract notice:
13/01/2020
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mod- ... cy-weaponsThe new systems are expected to be trialled in 2023 on Royal Navy ships and Army vehicles but, once developed, both technologies could be operated by all three services. The Armed Forces will use these exercises to get a better understanding of DEW, test the systems to their limits and assess how they could be integrated with existing platforms.
The MOD aims to invest up to £130m in this package of Directed Energy Weapons, including the construction of the demonstrators, the creation of a new Joint Programme Office and the recruitment of personnel to manage the programme.
These demonstrators are part of the MOD’s “Novel Weapons Programme” which is responsible for the trial and implementation of innovative weapons systems to ensure the UK remains a world leader in military technology. They are expected to reach the frontline within 10 years.
The MOD already has plans for initial trials of laser weapons systems, with the Dragonfire demonstrator commissioned by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory to be tested later this year.
The Dragonfire represents a world-first in laser weapons technology, combining multiple laser beams to produce a weapons system that is more powerful than its predecessors and resistant to the most challenging environmental conditions.
