Upgraded industry-funded Directed Energy M-SHORAD to appear in US Army training exercise

A US Army Stryker outfitted with a BlueHalo Locust laser performed a demonstration for the service taking down unmanned aircraft systems. (Leonardo DRS)

An industry-funded version of the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) platform is headed to the US Army's Fires Center of Excellence later this year with upgrades, lead integrator Leonardo DRS told Janes on 21 March.

This directed energy weapon, supplied by BlueHalo, is strapped to the back of a Stryker fighting vehicle, which has recently been provided by General Dynamics Land Systems – a new addition to the team, said Ed House, senior director of business development for land systems at Leonardo DRS. Additional upgrades to the system include protections to fire multiple effectors “simultaneously” and shooting off rockets from the directed energy vehicle for the first time at an event at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in June, said House.

During the training event in June, Sergeant Stout – the army's M-SHORAD programme of record – will be paired up with Leonardo DRS and BlueHalo's solution, which is sponsored by Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). The DE M-SHORAD programme of record will also shoot down targets during the event, House told Janes .

The Mission Equipment Package has access to 55 kW of power, 26 kW of which goes to the BlueHalo Locust laser system.

Effectors include Arnold Defense launcher for BAE Systems' 2.75 inch Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets, an XM914 30 mm cannon from Northrop Grumman, and a 7.62 M240 Bravo machine gun connected with the EOS Defense Systems USA R400 30 mm remote weapon station. A DRS RADA RPS-92 nMHR radar is on board the platform for detection.