US Air Force takes delivery of laser weapons
The palletised H4 is a 10-kilowatt laser weapon designed according to US military specifications. (Photo: Raytheon Technologies)
Raytheon Technologies have delivered the fourth combat-ready laser weapon to the USAF.
Preceding the deliveries, the company and the USAF Life Cycle Management Centre have conducted a series of successful tests on the air force's first-ever palletised high-energy laser weapon.
The live-fire exercises took place over four consecutive days at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The H4 is a 10kWlaser weapon designed according to US military specifications, capable of being transported and installed in any location as needed.
Raytheon Technologies has now delivered four operational laser weapon systems to the USAF, with a total of eight supplied to the DoD.
The primary role of the laser weapon is to safeguard personnel and assets from short-range aerial threats.
Raytheon said the weapon system underwent rigorous testing as part of the USAF Test and Assessment plan.
This included multiple live-fire exercises, focusing on acquiring, targeting, tracking and neutralising drone targets in various attack scenarios, including short-range, swarm and long-range threats.
The palletised laser weapon system is compact enough to fit into the cargo bed of a pickup truck.
It consists of a high-energy laser weapon module, a long-range electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor that also serves as the beam director, thermal control, internal electrical power and targeting software.
More from Air Warfare
-
![Brazilian Air Force conducts first live fire of Meteor missile from Gripen E]()
Brazilian Air Force conducts first live fire of Meteor missile from Gripen E
The major milestone for the beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile was conducted in November and expands the capabilities of the air force’s growing Gripen E fleet.
-
![India finally powers up engine production as it prepares to talk platforms with Putin]()
India finally powers up engine production as it prepares to talk platforms with Putin
Engine technology has been thrust into the spotlight ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India this week, with the Su-57, S-400 and Kamov-226 expected to be high on the agenda.
-
![November Drone Digest: GA-ASI eyes Middle East for Gambit, Edge Group unveils new UAVs]()
November Drone Digest: GA-ASI eyes Middle East for Gambit, Edge Group unveils new UAVs
In November 2025, GA-ASI unveiled a new Gambit variant, the Gambit 6, and appears to be pitching the aircraft series to various customers in the Middle East, which is a fast-emerging CCA market. The Dubai Airshow also saw the unveiling of various Emirati aircraft from Edge Group.
-
![Baykar’s Kizilelma drone makes progress with first air-to-air kill]()
Baykar’s Kizilelma drone makes progress with first air-to-air kill
This test is the latest milestone achieved by the indigenous drone, destroying a target using a beyond-visual-range missile.
