Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Air defence laser engages multiple missiles simultaneously

Defence

Air defence laser engages multiple missiles simultaneously

Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots are one step closer to being equipped with a cutting-edge air-protection laser self-protection system, following 100% successful live-fire trials.

Above: The new air defence laser system.
Courtesy MoD / Crown Copyright

The laser is being designed to be fitted to a range of RAF aircraft including the intelligence gathering Shadow R2 and A400M transporter, ready to rapidly detect and defeat threats such as missiles.  

During the trial at the Vidsel Test Range in Sweden, the operational system defeated a range of infrared heat-seeking missiles being fired simultaneously.

Advertisement
ODU RT

One hundred per cent of threats were quickly defeated using a laser with pinpoint accuracy, which has been designed and developed by the Team Pellonia partnership between Leonardo UK, Thales UK and the MoD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.

Defence Secretary, John Healey said: "Identifying, tracking and defeating threats from the air in seconds is crucial to having the edge over those who try to do us harm.  

"We’re equipping our Armed Forces with the very latest technology to keep them safe and give them the advantage on operations.

"This high-tech laser is another excellent example of joint working between our Dstl experts and the UK’s defence industry."

The system works by Thales’s Elix-IR threat warning system quickly detecting and identifying the launch of missiles, using a series of algorithms to filter out background clutter so that only valid threats are tracked, classified and declared.  

Once the threat(s) has been classified, an alert is sent to the Leonardo’s Miysis directed infrared countermeasure which moves to track the incoming missile and directs a jamming laser onto the missile with ultimate precision.

Threats are defeated faster than the time it takes to read this sentence. This UK engineered capability gives the MoD the latest generation best-in-class protection, whilst enjoying full operational independence, and offering the same freedoms to export customers.

The live tests were witnessed by senior military officers from a number of NATO nations.  

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

Dstl’s Chief for Air Survivability, Mark Elson, said: "The UK defensive aids system is the culmination of MoD’s detailed understanding of changing threats alongside years of sustained defence investment in science and technology nurtured within Dstl. This has been aligned with the development capabilities of our commercial partners through Team Pellonia.  

"The design of the system has the agility to protect platforms now and into the future, providing long-term operational advantage to the UK and our allies. This is enabled through Spiral Development which provides capabilities such as the Dstl developed jamming waveform that defeats the guidance of the missile threat."

Dstl’s research programme and partnerships like Team Pellonia help boost UK economic growth, sustaining 700 jobs at Thales in Glasgow and 1,250 specialist roles at Leonardo in Edinburgh, supporting both the local as well as national economies.

Leonardo’s Senior Vice-President of Radar and Advanced Targeting, Mark Stead, said: "The results of these latest trials speak for themselves, and are a testament to the skills and experience within Leonardo as a global leader in directed infrared countermeasures. Miysis DIRCM has again proven itself as a reliable, effective protection system and is flying operationally on many platforms today.  

"My thanks go to the Miysis team who demonstrated superb leadership and technical prowess during the trials at Vidsel, working alongside our partners in Defence and Industry to prove our capabilities which help to protect our Armed Forces."

Thales’s Managing Director of Optronics & Missile Electronics UK, Stephen McCann, said: "Once again, as previously witnessed during SALT 3 in 2018, Elix-IR has proved its world leading capabilities as the latest generation multi-function infrared threat warning system during what was a comprehensive and complicated multifaceted trial.  

"I am extremely proud of our entire team that supported both the UK, under Team Pellonia, and other NATO member teams in the preparation and execution of this event. UK MoD has adopted Elix-IR as its core reference capability threat warner of choice, based on its maturity and proven capability."

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
UK and allies expose Russian cyber campaign targeting western logistics and tech entities

Defence Security

UK and allies expose Russian cyber campaign targeting western logistics and tech entities

23 May 2025

The UK government and international allies have exposed Russia’s military intelligence service for a campaign of malicious cyber activity against western logistics entities and technology companies.

Tyron boosts logistics team with Beata Sleightholme

Defence Security

Tyron boosts logistics team with Beata Sleightholme

23 May 2025

Tyron Runflat, inventor of the world’s only multipiece rubber Runflat system, is celebrating its latest team investment with the appointment of experienced Logistics & Administration Operative, Beata Sleightholme.

Marshall appoints Andrew Auker-Howlett as Head of Manufacturing Support

Aerospace Defence

Marshall appoints Andrew Auker-Howlett as Head of Manufacturing Support

23 May 2025

Marshall has appointed Andrew Auker-Howlett as Head of Manufacturing Support, a key role underpinning the company’s maintenance, repair, overhaul and engineering activities.

Teledyne launches industrial image sensors tested for space

Defence Space

Teledyne launches industrial image sensors tested for space

23 May 2025

Teledyne Technologies has announced the release of three variants of industrial CMOS sensors, with resolutions ranging from 1.3MP up to 67MP, following a delta space qualification methodology and radiation testing.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
QinetiQ awarded LTPA extension by MoD

Defence

QinetiQ awarded LTPA extension by MoD

23 May 2025

QinetiQ Group plc has been awarded a five-year, £1.54 billion extension to its Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) that will transform the provision of mission critical test and evaluation capabilities and services that help to enhance operational readiness of the UK and allied nations.

BAE Systems and IDV collaborate on BvS10

Defence

BAE Systems and IDV collaborate on BvS10

23 May 2025

BAE Systems Hägglunds and Iveco Defence Vehicles (IDV) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pursue a strategic collaboration for the BvS10 all-terrain vehicle for the Italian market.

Advertisement
ODU RT