Raytheon has expanded its CUAS and air defence programmes and production lines, following a recent successful test of its High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) by the UK’s leading defence science and equipment bodies.

In an announcement at the Farnborough International Airshow on July 22, the company said the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) agency had successfully tested the HELWS the week before the show.

The test was carried out at Dstl’s Porton Down firing range and the laser was integrated into a British Army Wolfhound