US Army Laser Weapon
The use of lasers as weapons has transitioned from science fiction into reality. The United States Army has deployed its first operational laser weapons system in Iraq. Three Stryker infantry combat vehicles armed with 50-kilowatt lasers, known as DE M-SHORADS, have been deployed in response to lethal drone attacks against US personnel. These cutting-edge systems were not delivered for service until last September.
According to Forbes, citing Army Times, US Central Command Chief General Michael Kurilla told Congress that three DE M-SHORADS systems are in Iraq "right now" and are being used in "experiments to identify their best application." Army Times also reported that Kurilla did not disclose the preliminary results of these 'experiments'.
DE M-SHORADS stands for Directed Energy Maneuver Short Range Air Defense Systems. Developed by RTX (formerly Raytheon), they combine a 50-kilowatt laser weapon with the armored chassis of a Stryker infantry combat vehicle. The laser is aimed at attacking aerial targets and is controlled by a radar acquisition system, a targeting sensor, and a beam control system.
The DE M-SHORADS is intended to provide air defense surveillance to Army ground troops, shielding them from drones, both individual and swarm attacks. The entire 50-kilowatt laser system weighs approximately seven tons and, mounted on the Stryker, features armored protection and a top speed of 100 kilometers per hour. The weapons system is operated through a reinforced laptop, with the operator using an Xbox-style controller to handle the weapon.
The Advantages of Laser Technology
The use of lasers offers several advantages over existing anti-drone systems. Unlike cannon or missile-based systems, lasers theoretically have an unlimited number of shots, limited only by the system's access to electricity. Lasers travel at the speed of light and do not require guidance to intercept the target. The system also does not indiscriminately disrupt radio signals like electronic warfare jammers do.
Army Times reports that the Army sent the three laser-armed Strykers to Iraq in January, following a significant rise in drone and artillery attacks against US forces in the region. While sporadic attacks have been a problem for years, they spiked dramatically following the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. The attacks are typically carried out by local militias under Iran's direction, and the Pentagon officially considers Iraq as a combat zone.
Forces backed by Iran have conducted 150 attacks against US forces since October, causing dozens of injuries but no fatalities. The US initially downplayed these attacks to avoid escalating the conflict. However, on January 28, 2024, a kamikaze drone struck a US outpost in Jordan known as Tower 22. The drone hit a barracks, killing three US soldiers and injuring several dozen. The attack was carried out by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian proxy.
According to Army Times, the DE M-SHORADS systems were manufactured to shield US positions from ongoing threats. They can not only target drones but also engage enemy artillery in flight. RTX claims it can target RAM, or 'rockets, artillery, and mortars.' The system is the first in history with the capability to intercept enemy artillery shells in flight before they hit near friendly positions.
This deployment in Iraq marks the debut of the Army's small laser-armed Stryker force. In September, as reported by the same source, the Army assigned a platoon of four Strykers to the 4th Battalion of the 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Three-quarters of that force are now in Iraq. It's unclear whether the vehicles are operating together or dispersed among several smaller forward operating bases.
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