US Army Readies First Laser-Based Weapon System For Deployment In 2022
The United States Army is making all sci-fi enthusiasts' dreams come true with an upcoming laser weapon.?
The army is in the process of building its first Stryker infantry carrier vehicle equipped with a high-power laser weapon, taking wargames to the next level.?
On Tuesday, the army announced successful completion of its pilot Directed Energy-Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system wherein a shoot-off between two laser systems was assessed at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, US.?
How were these laser-based weapons developed?
The 50-kilowatt laser weapons were developed competitively by defence contractors Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.?
The army claims that laser tech was employed in a life-like setting, recreating real combat scenarios and threats. Tests undertaken by both the contractors included artillery, mortar targets, and rockets on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).?
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In a statement, the service claimed that Stryker vehicles were put in realistic scenarios to ascertain how the laser-based weapons system would perform.?
If the US Army is to be believed, laser-based weaponry is ready to be deployed in the next war, but it's still unclear whether the technology is as feasible as traditional weapons.?
"The technology we have today is ready. This is a gateway to the future", asserted Army Hypersonics and Directed Energy Chief Ltg L Neil Thurgood in a statement, while adding how this development marked the first application of lasers for manoeuvres in the army.?
According to DE M-SHORAD programme manager Col G Scoot McLeod, the brand new capability was built over the last 24 months and saw collaboration from the government and industry leaders.?
McLeod in a statement said that "it [is] ready to perform in an operational environment".?
What inspired laser weaponry??
War-mongering aside, will laser weapons replace the generic systems currently employed by global governments. If yes, will these be quicker and more effective in neutralising adversaries? We'll have to wait and see.?
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The US is no stranger to strange tech. In fact, the Pentagon once wanted to deploy laser-equipped Strykers in Iraq and Syria to outsmart and kill drones carrying explosives, especially from terror groups like ISIS.?
Russia's unlawful annexation of the Crimea region also forced US officials into a moment of reflection, wherein they identified gaps in terms of short-range air defence systems (SHORAD).?
What will laser weapons do??
In a statement, the army asserted that the laser-based weaponry would allow "lethality" against rockets, artillery and mortars (RAM), and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).?
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Additionally, this fresh take on weapons could help reduce the total lifecycle cost of the technology during reduced logistical limitations.?
The first platoon of four laser-ready Stryker vehicles will be dispatched to a real combat unit sometime in 2022 by the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO).
