Gabriele Molinelli
@Gabriel64869839 • 20,073 subscribers
Journalist. The british armed forces history got me into following everything military. Author of #http://ukarmedforcescommentary.blogspot.com/ Juventus FC fan
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The MOD has launched Project PANOPTES to deliver Directed Energy weapons for C-UAS in the Land environment. Although they say they are "open" to workable alternatives, de facto the requirement calls for a laser. The project is to develop through 2 phases: P1 will be a 2-stage downselections. P2 will start from the full proposal matured through P1 and Evaluate. Phase 1 is aiming for start November - December this year and last no more than 6 months. The requirements call for a system comprising of Passive RF detection, with the weapon capable of Continuous 100 KW power, with 150 KW peak. The solution must weight no more than 1,200 kg and fit on a 463L NATO pallet (2.74 x 2.24 m). Significantly, among the Standards data/messaging systems it must be integrated with, appears the Modular Integrated Protection System (MIPS), aka the MoD proprietary system for Active Defence of armoured vehicles. As the laser is being required to be "compatible" down the line with installation on suitable Uncrewed Ground Vehicles, you can see the underlying reasoning: MIPS, with its sensors (as we have seen on the AJAX BLACKJAX demonstrator, most notably) sees the incoming drone threat and tasks the accompanying laser with defeat. The kill must happen at ranges of at least 500 meters, to 1+ km ideally. The good: they are now looking for a significantly more powerful laser. The bad: the actual deployment of a laser capability on Land is being slowed down. In December 2024, then Minister Maria Eagle was still promising that Land Directed Energy Weapons would come into service in 2027, effectively on the back of project SWINTON. In June 2025 a Preliminary Market Notice for Land DEW was published. It was supposed to go to tender soon after to field a first few land lasers but, for all i know, it went nowhere. (Unless the MoD bought something from either Raytheon or EOS in secret) Project SWINTON, you might remember, demonstrated a Raytheon laser on a WOLFHOUND during the course of 2024, on the back of contracts signed in 2021. The SWINTON laser is a 15 KW system. It killed BQ-400 target drones at distances of up to 1 km. The palletized laser mount can fit on pickups. Targeting was delivered through the use of BLIGHTER A800 3D radar. PANOPTES wants a far more powerful laser with a similar footprint (and this is by now eminently feasible) but the negative part is that the wait to actually field something will be longer. Assuming this does make it to the field.
Gabriele Molinelli22,036 views • 17 days ago
MoD says spreading sensors and weapons of one Destroyer across 1 crewed & multiple uncrewed hulls, gives more mass. Beware it implies building in MULTIPLES. If you end up building 12 instead of 6 but you need 4 of the 12 to make "one of the 6", it's the mathematics of defeat
Gabriele Molinelli45,866 views • 2 months ago
Saab UK posted this image, mentioning key role of BlueBear in producing threat simulation solutions. This Shahed copy is, from what i can piece together, most likely part of Pj EFFINGO (latin for replica). At least 2 drones have been developed; used as realistic targets.
Gabriele Molinelli44,890 views • 6 months ago
After multiple interceptions in skies of Iraq, Royal Air Force gives us 1st ever video detailing RAPID SENTRY. Born in 2022, it restored some ground to air missile capability to RAF Regiment for 1st time since the early 2000s but previous gov didn't seek to advertise it at all.
Gabriele Molinelli42,600 views • 6 months ago
MoD video from field in Estonia. The footage includes troops operating from a WARRIOR and I believe the images show the installation of the TRAILBLAZER camera in the back as dismounts security situational awareness "eye". Images are not high res enough to be 100% sure, though
Gabriele Molinelli49,166 views • 7 months ago
Boeing posted a video showing inauguration of "Aden Wing", the 8 Sqn building (E-7 WEDGATAIL) right next to Atlantic building (p-8 Poseidon) in Lossiemouth. While video was posted today, naming of the building dates back to late february. Shows some views inside ATLATIC, too.
Gabriele Molinelli17,642 views • 6 months ago
AJAX as is is not quite drone-ready, but it is not any worse than others. And it can become one of very best. With MIPS fitted, it can find and track drones both optically and via radar; gun can easily be tweaked to elevate up to 85° and AA airburst round is there to be adopted.
Gabriele Molinelli14,508 views • 10 months ago
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