The MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (MOD) has issued a Prior Information Notice (PIN) regarding its intentions surrounding the development of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW).
The notice, published on 11th October 2023, reads, “The Directed Energy Weapons team, part of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), is seeking interest from Suppliers who may be interested in supporting the development of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) capabilities, part of the MOD Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) programme.“
Highlighting the progress and plans, the notice points out a previous Industry Briefing Note from 1st September 2023 and confirms the organisation of two separate Industry Events.
The notice specifies, “One event on Friday Oct 20th, 2023, and another on Friday Nov 10th, 2023.” Suppliers who had responded to the September notice will be contacted by the MOD about these events.
Both events aim to provide identical information regarding the DEW Programme, including details on Procurement Strategy and Timeframes.
The MOD encourages maximum participation and has thus arranged separate events. Interestingly, suppliers have the flexibility to attend both. Attendance details suggest a restriction of two attendees per company. For businesses with multiple legal entities, two attendees per entity are allowed.
However, the MOD has made it clear that, “The publication of this PIN and the two upcoming Industry Events do NOT form part of any competitive procedure, nor do they constitute the launch of a procurement exercise.”
The notice further clarifies that responses to this PIN or attendance at the mentioned events are not mandatory prerequisites for participating in any future procurement exercises. The PIN falls under the CPV Code “73410000”, which pertains to military research and technology.
We need to fast track any tech in this area. Are the procurement rules slowing us down?
All part of the long haul. Probably lack of budget slowing things down. Capabilities including all the lifespan costings are always monumentally more expensive than just buying a thingy. Especially when the tech is immature and the lifespan might be short.
However I think we genuinely don’t know enough about the use of DEW to accelerate too much. Do we know what type of targets we can shoot down with the Raytheon 15KW laser and what need the 50KW Dragonfire? Whether the solution is to buy and try (COTS/MOTS) or just keep gathering data to get a better grip on requirements, I’m not sure. The more expensive the thingy, the less viable buy and try is and the more you want a proper process.
15kw laser. 1-2 km range. 10 sec dwell time on target. for low slow drone targets.
Now do the math with a target coming in at 100 / 200mph…
You could engage 6 or 3 targets max in a swarm before they were overhead and diving down onto you…
And that’s before you consider environmental’s such as rain, snow, humidity, pollution, smoke thermal bloom etc.
The only saving grace for a DEW is the speed of light compared too good old wall of lead when engaging targets at least with a DEW you can continue engaging once a target has flown overhead that’s if you’re still afloat though GB
One presumes it would be used in addition to and complimentary with other close in defence support weapons and incapacitating systems. It certainly would not be an all or nothing system for a long, long time if ever.
Yeah your there Spy be a few decades before primary Armaments are DEWs the RN has been dabbling with Lasers since OP Corporate and still CWS consists of .50 20mm 30mm and Chaff not very Buck Rogers
Off topic, but has anything been revealed about the 2001 RFI on EMAL system for the carriers?
No, it was just an Request for Information, no contract was going to be awarded. But the RN/RFAA isn’t lacking plans for upgrades to the QEC over the next decade – if the money can be found. E.g. google the phrase “Project Ark Royal”.