The United States Army has marked a significant advancement in battlefield air defense technology with the integration of a 50-kilowatt class high-energy laser weapon system onto the Stryker A1 8×8 armored vehicle.

Known as the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system, and colloquially dubbed “Guardian,” the sophisticated setup represents a crucial move in countering a wide array of aerial threats, from drones to projectiles. Delivering a significant leap in capability, the first operational unit set was established at Fort Sill in September 2022.

As part of the Multi-Mission High Energy Laser (MMHEL) program, the DE M-SHORAD features a robust power management and cooling system provided by Kord Technologies, while Raytheon contributes the 50-kW class high-energy laser, beam director, electro-optical/infrared target acquisition and tracking system, as well as a Ku720 multi-mission radar.

This multifaceted system, capable of 360-degree persistent radar coverage, enhances the Stryker A1’s ability to sense and counter imminent threats effectively.

Marcia Holmes, the deputy director of hypersonics, directed energy, space, and rapid acquisition, underscored the DE M-SHORAD’s mission, stating that it is designed to protect divisions and brigade combat teams against unmanned aircraft systems, rotary and fixed-wing threats, rockets, artillery, and mortars.

The Stryker’s enhanced DE M-SHORAD configuration was put to the test in a “combat shoot-off” at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in August 2021, where it confronted multiple scenarios that confirmed its defensive capabilities.

In the context of this development, it’s important to highlight the broader progression in laser weapon systems.

Lockheed Martin has recently been contracted to provide a series of 300-kilowatt laser weapon systems under the Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) prototype program, which dwarfs the DE M-SHORAD in power output.

These Valkyrie systems, designed to engage and destroy even more sophisticated threats such as cruise missiles, are set to be delivered in fiscal 2025.

The DE M-SHORAD’s operational testing is not confined to domestic ranges.

The U.S. Army has deployed the system to the U.S. Central Command area of operations for real-world testing in challenging environments, including dust storms that have been known to impact the efficiency of laser systems.

This overseas testing is crucial for assessing the performance of the high-energy lasers under combat conditions and optimizing them for different operational theaters.

Despite the promise shown by these laser systems, challenges remain. As noted by Army Maj. Gen. Sean Gainey, the logistics and maintenance of these systems in remote and harsh environments must be improved for them to be scaled across the force effectively.

Further, the natural elements such as dust and atmospheric disturbances continue to pose limitations on the use of directed energy weapons.

The DE M-SHORAD, armed with a 50 kW-class laser, represents a transformative development in air defense, offering a cost-effective and precise solution against an array of threats.