Launch of Laser Directed Energy Weapon Demonstrator project with Thales UK

In consortium with Thales UK and industry partners in a project known as Project Tracey, we'll work to produce and trial advanced demonstrators for the Royal Navy, for user experimentation on a Type 23 frigate starting in 2023.

The contract supports around 35 new and sustained jobs in across BAE Systems Maritime sites in Great Baddow, Essex, New Malden, London and Portsmouth, Hampshire sites in the South East and in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, in the North West of England.

Laser Directed Energy Weapon technology is a well understood capability; Project Tracey will go beyond the experimental to take laser capabilities from the laboratory to an operational Royal Navy ship. The project will test the integration and the delivery of these types of weapon system and their concept of operation in real-world environments.

The experimentation will focus on operation and maintenance of these new systems and will provide invaluable knowledge, information and experience to assess whether Laser DEW can be fully embedded on other defence assets in the future.

Laser Directed Energy Weapons have pinpoint accuracy and can be used to deter, degrade or destroy multiple threats using munitions-free effects with minimal components and comparatively low maintenance costs.

The systems are powered by electricity and operate without ammunition, significantly reducing operating costs, increasing platform endurance and providing unprecedented offensive and defensive flexibility to personnel on the frontline.

We will be supporting Thales UK as platform and combat system integrator and will use our expertise in synthetic training, modelling, combat systems and platform integration to put the Royal Navy at the forefront of understanding the operational integration of these novel weapons.

We will also use our Synthetic Training and Digital Twin capabilities to support the integration and safe operation of the Laser Weapon on an operational Royal Navy ship and develop programmes to create roadmaps for the adoption of LDEW.

David Mitchard, Managing Director, Maritime Services, BAE Systems said: "We're delighted to be working with the MOD and Thales UK on developing the future of Naval weapons systems.

"We look forward to working collaboratively with them to demonstrate how our expertise in training, digital modelling and platform integration can help the Royal Navy remain at the forefront of future maritime defence."

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