In a significant advancement for Australia’s defense capabilities, QinetiQ has successfully demonstrated the nation’s first scalable high-power laser optical chain prototype. This initiative resulted from a collaborative effort with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG), which reflects Australia’s commitment to developing advanced technologies that counter modern threats.
The innovation comes under a contract awarded to the Hampshire-based defense firm earlier in 2023 to create a defensive laser system that can be deployed across a variety of scenarios. Following the recent demonstration, QinetiQ expressed that they are making substantial progress toward establishing sovereign directed energy systems aimed at mitigating challenges posed by both current and future uncrewed systems.
“This achievement is an Australian-first,” stated Gary Stewart, the chief executive of QinetiQ’s Australian Sector. He emphasized the goal of accelerating the development of sovereign high-energy laser technology, which will ultimately be made available to the Australian Defence Force. According to Stewart, such advancements will enhance the military’s ability to tackle existing and emerging threats, particularly uncrewed aircraft, in a more cost-effective manner compared to conventional defense strategies.
Looking ahead, a full-scale prototype of this advanced laser system is expected to be delivered during the next development phase, slated for the first half of 2025.
The project aims to leverage QinetiQ’s coherent beam combining (CBC) technology alongside DSTG’s capabilities in high-power amplifiers. This technology facilitates the merging of multiple high-power laser beams into one coherent beam while maintaining both high power and beam quality over distances. QinetiQ’s previous experience with the UK’s DragonFire laser-directed energy weapon was instrumental in securing the partnership and project award.
“We were chosen because DSTG believed that their technology and ours would come together to accelerate the development of sovereign capability for Australia,” said Russell Maddalena, QinetiQ Australia’s campaign director for advanced capabilities.
Collaboration between QinetiQ’s UK and Australian divisions has been integral to the project, with a particular emphasis on systems integration being conducted in Adelaide, Australia. This Australian laser prototype is projected to advance through stages of development that begin with lower technology readiness levels and short-range tests, eventually transitioning to longer-range operations.
The DragonFire laser system, which has already completed its first test in November 2022, is anticipated to be deployed on warships by 2027, a significant acceleration from its initial 2032 target, underscoring the urgency driven by rising threats. The DragonFire consortium includes prominent entities such as MBDA, Leonardo, QinetiQ, as well as the UK government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, which collectively aim to bolster defense capabilities in an increasingly complex security landscape.
