US creates battlefield revolution: combat lasers to shoot down drones, shells in 2025

The armament of the Stryker DE M-SHORAD armored vehicle includes a radar, an optical-location station, an electronic reconnaissance station, as well as a 50 kW combat laser. The purpose is short-range air defense of forward units. The main tactical unit is a platoon of four combat vehicles that cover the entire area and each other.

The first four prototypes are already being successfully tested, another platoon of such vehicles will be sent for testing in 2024, and they are scheduled to be put into service in 2025.

What targets should be destroyed by the DE M-SHORAD Stryker:

1. Drones of all types can be detected at a distance of up to 8 km. At close range, they can be shot down, and at longer distances, the optics can be damaged.

2. Optoelectronic devices, sensors, sights of all types of weapons.

3. Rockets, shells, and mortar shells.

At the same time, the ammunition of the combat vehicle is not actually limited, because it hits with an energy charge that cannot be intercepted, and if the power system for the power plant is working nearby, it can work for a long time. As of July 2022, Raytheon engineers have reported 20,000 hours of operation of their laser system.

That is, a unit attacking with the support of Stryker DE M-SHORAD will be able to fully protect itself from all types of conventional drones on the battlefield, and no Lancet, Eagle, or Mavic will come close.

Anti-tank missile systems, if they fire, will be disabled due to damage to the optical sight and the missiles themselves if they reach the target.

All artillery shells, mortar shells, and missiles of various types that are directed at the place where the combat laser system is used will be destroyed.

All other types of sights and rangefinders will also be identified and destroyed.

The use of combat lasers will provide a great tactical advantage on the battlefield and will lead to another revolution in tactics.

Source

About the author: Yuriy Butusov, journalist, soldier with Ukraine's Armed Forces.

The editors don't always share the opinions expressed by the authors of the blogs.