Stryker-Mounted Laser Prototypes Undergo Live Testing in Middle East

The US Army recently sent four Stryker-mounted, 50-kilowatt laser prototypes to the Middle East’s US Central Command (CENTCOM) region for real-world testing, the service’s new vice chief, General James Mingus, told Breaking Defense last Friday, March 1.

Advancing Military Capabilities

According to the latest report, the Army deployed its four modified Stryker vehicles packed with 50-kilowatt laser prototypes in the Middle East for “live environment” testing.

This move signals a big step in beefing up our advanced military tech.

General Mingus is the brain behind this operation, and he’s making it clear that this is no walk in the park. These prototypes might have some kinks to iron out, but we’re committed to learning from this experience.

“Is it 100 percent ready? Is it going to work perfectly? Probably not, but we’re going to learn from it,” said Mingus in an interview.

Sending these laser beasts into live-action shows how serious we are about staying ahead in the tech game and beefing up our defense capabilities.

First Generation Laser Energy Weapons Sent to the Middle East by U.S. Military-US Army sent four Stryker-mounted 50-kilowatt laser prototypes to the Middle East for real-world testing that includes facing down dust particles.
More on the link belowhttps://t.co/U1PSijBqv5 pic.twitter.com/uaKB2JOgjk

— @Investigator_50 (@Investigator_50) March 3, 2024

Aligning with Transformation Initiatives

Deploying these laser prototypes aligns with Army Chief General Randy George’s idea of being nimble in combat, where everyone – from users to developers – pitches in real-time feedback.

It’s all about quick tweaks and improvements to the Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) prototype, which slaps high-energy lasers onto Stryker rides.

Addressing Key Challenges

One of the significant challenges they’re tackling with these tests is figuring out how effective these laser weapons are against different threats, from drones to incoming rockets and mortars.

Mingus hammered home the point that it’s not just about how much juice these lasers pack but how much bang they deliver per square centimeter.

The weather’s a wildcard, too, especially with those nasty dust storms in the Middle East.

The Army is hoping these real-world tests will give them a lowdown on how Mother Nature messes with laser power. That’s the kind of stuff you can’t simulate in a lab.

This is Raytheon's High Energy Laser (HEL) fitted to the Stryker DE M-SHORAD. Its 50 kW laser can shoot down Class I, II, and III drones at ranges > 5 km. This means small, medium and large UAS flying at altitudes of up to 30,000 ft. It can perform a C-RAM role against rockets,… pic.twitter.com/Zt8CsBmqvv

— Nicholas Drummond (@nicholadrummond) September 30, 2023

Logistical Concerns and Supply Chain Challenges

But it’s not just about the tech side of things.

The Army’s also sweating over the logistical nightmare of keeping these high-energy weapons running in the heat of battle.

Sure, these tests won’t exactly replicate what soldiers face on the ground, but they’re a solid first step in figuring out the kinks.

Advancing Laser Power: From Prototype to Field Testing

The US Army’s been tinkering with Stryker-mounted laser prototypes since the mid-to-late 2010s, aiming to slap some serious firepower onto combat vehicles to take out drones, rockets, and other nasty surprises.

Exact start dates are fuzzy, but by 2021, it seems they were making headway.

Reports suggest they’d cleared enough hurdles to start testing these bad boys out in the real world by early 2024, and this is how they find themselves in the Middle East to see how they hold up in the grit and grime of actual combat zones. It’s all about figuring out if these lasers are worth their salt for future battles.

Implications for Future Defense Strategies

With drones buzzing around and the need for cheaper defense solutions, there’s a real push to get these laser prototypes up and running.

If they pan out, they could save a bundle compared to traditional interceptors, giving commanders a whole new bag of tricks to tackle threats.

As the Army dives into this journey of innovation and trial runs, the results of these real-world tests could reshape how we do military business, not just in the Middle East but everywhere else, too.