USAF calls down power of ZEUS to destroy explosives
Parsons is claiming to be the first company to receive a production contract from the US DoD for a ground-based directed-energy system, with a $50.6 million award for the Recovery of Airbase Denied by Ordnance (RADBO) system.
The USAF will receive 13 RADBO systems under the six-year contract.
Parsons will make, integrate and sustain the RADBO units, each of which comprises the ZEUS laser and an interrogation arm assembly mounted on an MRAP vehicle.
ZEUS is designed to destroy unexploded ordnance with extreme accuracy in previously denied areas at ranges of up to 300m to improve the safety of deployed warfighters, Parsons noted in a 1 October statement.
It added that the laser is powerful enough to detonate small submunitions from cluster bombs, landmines, general-purpose bombs and thick-cased artillery rounds.
RADBO will therefore ‘greatly increase safe and effective explosive ordnance disposal operations’, said Hector Cuevas, Parsons executive vice president of missile defence and C5ISR.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent]()
Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
-
![UK begins process on new industrial strategy]()
UK begins process on new industrial strategy
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
-
![Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west]()
Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
-
![What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration]()
What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
-
![RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific]()
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
-
![Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard]()
Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
