How the U.S. Army Is Harnessing Laser Technology as a Defense Strategy
What to know about this safer and more cost-effective system.
By Judy Brumley
Dec 2, 2021
As part of an ongoing effort to modernize the battlefield, the U.S. Army is working with Kord Technologies to put laser weapons on the ground. The newly created Directed Energy Maneuver Short Range Air Defense system (or DE M-SHORAD for short), a 50 kilowatt-class laser integrated on to a Stryker vehicle, is designed to shoot down threats like drones and mortars without the use of guns and heavy artillery. Following a successful combat shoot-off earlier this year, Kord Technologies is preparing four prototypes of the laser weapon system, which are mounted on armored Stryker vehicles, to be deployed into the field in September 2022.
Here, Wesley Freiwald, vice president for Space Superiority and Missile Defense at KBR, Kord Technologies’ parent company, explains just how this groundbreaking system works and why it’s a valuable asset for the Army.
What Is the DE M-SHORAD Weapon System?
The lasers being created for the Army are nothing like the lasers you know. Compared to the average laser pointer, which is around 0.005 watts and effectively harmless, the DE M-SHORAD weapon systems have significantly more power. As much as 50 kilowatts of power, to be more exact. They can destroy drones and mortars, providing assistance to troops and protection in the field.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a38160218/how-the-us-army-is-harnessing-laser-technology-as-a-defense-strategy/
