Britain tests new anti-UAV laser weapon.

World military news on December 12, 2024: UK tests new anti-UAV laser weapon; US assesses the effectiveness of the Su-57 jet engine.

Britain tests new laser weapon, what do American experts think of the new jet engine for the Su-57 fighter jet… these are the topics in today's world military news.

American experts assess the Su-57's new jet engine system.

The vector-guided nozzle system of the new jet engine fitted to Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 Felon fighter jet could enhance the aircraft's stealth capabilities.

The American military magazine The War Zone (TWZ) assessed that images of the new engine equipment on the Su-57 aircraft show that its jet nozzle system has been redesigned. The photos show the T-50-2 prototype being used to test the new second-stage jet engine called Izdeliye 30.

Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet has been testing a new jet engine featuring thrust vectoring technology. Photo: Lenta

On the left engine of the aircraft is an engine with a flat nozzle that the improved Su-57 is being tested with. The American publication acknowledges that the new nozzle mechanism will help control the thrust vector of the Su-57 in two planes.

“For example, this type of concealed flat engine nozzle is also used on the F-22 Raptor and was primarily chosen to reduce radar signature compared to axially symmetrical nozzles. It also offers advantages in reducing infrared signature,” TWZ wrote.

In November 2024, the General Director of Rosoboronexport, Alexander Mikheev, affirmed that the main advantage of the Su-57, which distinguishes it from its foreign rivals, is the applied technologies that have proven effective in real-world battlefield conditions.

He is testing a new laser weapon for anti-UAV missions.

The British government announced that its military has successfully tested a new High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS) to destroy or disable drones.

The British government stated: " For the first time, the military has successfully used a high-energy laser weapon from a combat vehicle to destroy a drone ."

High-energy beams are used to inflict damage and incinerate the target's flying vehicle. The laser system, developed by Raytheon UK, is mounted on the chassis of the Wolfhound armored vehicle.

The UK's new HELWS laser weapon system. Photo: Defense News

Maria Eagle, head of the UK's Defence Industry and Procurement Agency, said: “The successful testing of this laser weapon system represents a significant step forward in the development of our future defense capabilities and demonstrates the excellence of British engineers.”

In July 2024, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that Raytheon UK, together with the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the Defence Equipment and Support Department of the UK Ministry of Defence, had successfully tested a laser cannon.

The US Congress reduces the number of F-35s ordered.

The U.S. Congress plans to reduce the number of F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jets that the Pentagon intends to order by 2025.

According to the military news site Defense News, the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2025, unveiled by US lawmakers on December 7th, will limit the number of newly purchased F-35 fighter jets delivered to the military until the Pentagon demonstrates a plan to address certain issues with the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

F-35 fighter jet. Photo: Getty

The U.S. military initially planned to purchase 68 F-35s, but Congress wants to limit the number of new fighter jets to 48. The Air Force could purchase 30 F-35A aircraft; the Marine Corps and Navy were proposed to order 9 F-35B and F-35C aircraft each.

It should be noted that US lawmakers are increasingly dissatisfied with the JSF program due to delays. In particular, due to problems with the TR-3 upgrade, the delivery of the F-35 batch originally scheduled for summer 2023 has been delayed by almost a year.

As of December 2023, Lockheed Martin had built less than half of the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets ordered, using the TR-3 standard. The delay was attributed to a shortage of critical components.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft for France has been assembled.

The American corporation Northrop Grumman has begun production of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft for the French Navy. Representatives from the French Navy, Northrop Grumman, the Naval Air Systems Command, and the US Navy's Office of International Programs attended the ceremony marking this event.

According to Defense Industry Europe, Northrop Grumman has signed a contract to produce three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes for the French armed forces. The first is expected to be delivered in 2027. The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye will replace the French Navy's E-2C Hawkeye 2000 aircraft, which have been in service for over 25 years. The new aircraft features in-flight refueling capabilities, significantly increasing operational flexibility.

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning and control aircraft. Photo: Topwar

Since entering service with the French Navy in 1998, the E-2C Hawkeye 2000 has become a vital component of the French air defense system, supporting the USS Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group. Currently, France remains the only country outside the United States to operate this aircraft from an aircraft carrier.

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft is equipped with Allison T56 turboprop engines (5250 horsepower) and a 7.3-meter-diameter rotating radar dome mounted on top of the fuselage and wings, providing surveillance capabilities over hundreds of kilometers of airspace.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/ban-tin-quan-su-the-gioi-ngay-12122024-anh-thu-nghiem-vu-khi-laser-chong-uav-moi-363838.html