Team Dynetics to continue HEL TVD development

Dynetics, Lockheed Martin and its partners have received a $10 million contract from the US Army to continue development for the next phase of the High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator (HEL TVD) programme, a 100kW class laser weapon system, Lockheed Martin announced on 6 August.

Under the contract, Dynetics will serve as prime contractor, while Lockheed Martin will provide the laser subsystem, as well as other key subsystems.

The team recently completed a system requirements review and technical baseline update. The next step in the programme will be the preliminary design review in January 2019.

Team Dynetics is one of two remaining contractors competing to build the demonstrator that will be tested in 2022. The winning contractor will be awarded a contract option to finish the design, build and integrate the laser weapon system onto an army Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) platform and conduct field testing at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

Iain McKinnie, business development lead for Advanced Laser Solutions and Strategy at Lockheed Martin, said: ‘The proliferation of hostile unmanned aerial systems and rockets, artillery and mortars present an increasing threat to deployed US troops. Laser weapons offer a deep magazine and very low cost per shot making them ideally suited to complement existing kinetic energy weapons to address intense UAS swarms and RAM raids.'