The U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office has made big strides in advancing its Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense systems. Recently, Mr. Young Bang, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology was thoroughly updated on the DE M-SHORAD prototyping effort during a visit to the Kord Integration Facility in Huntsville, AL.
Mr. Bang was joined by Col. Steven D. Gutierrez, Project Manager for DE M-SHORAD, and other program leaders in seeing the development progress of these game-changing laser weapon systems. The DE M-SHORAD Prototype, integrated on a Stryker Combat Vehicle and manned by a three-soldier crew, is intended to defeat a large number of air threats providing Brigade Combat Teams with an increased freedom to maneuver.
During the visit, Mr. Bang was allowed to watch the live fire demonstration of the HEL system, which showcased the operational capabilities of the DE M-SHORAD. Col. Gutierrez asserted that the demonstration was very important, adding that the insights provided by Mr. Bang are vital to continued development. “His visit is exceptionally advantageous as we prepare to employ our prototypes in an operational environment and continue to pursue Army modernization in the high-energy laser space,” Gutierrez stated.
Deliveries of the DE M-SHORAD systems have already taken place to the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. This delivery represents one of those great milestones in the Army’s modernization campaign, as the 4-60th ADAR becomes the first tactical unit that will be equipped with these advanced laser systems. Col. Gutierrez emphasized what this development will bring, pointing out, “These high energy laser systems will be a game-changer on the contemporary battlefield, a critical component of an integrated, layered, and in-depth air missile defense for division and brigade maneuver formations.”
The 4-60th ADAR has been hard at work training with these systems, including a successful capability demonstration during a Live Fire Exercise at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona. Training and integration have prepared the unit for the real world in effectively employing the DE M-SHORAD systems.
In a major milestone, the Army has sent four DE M-SHORAD prototypes to the Middle East for operational testing. It is sending them there expressly to test how they function in demanding environments, such as dust storms, which affect the efficacy of lasers. “Our high-energy lasers are so susceptible to weather. That’s why I think this is going to be a great laboratory.”
The DE M-SHORAD systems represent a big leap forward for Army air defense, providing Soldiers with a very cost-efficient, highly precise method of defeating a multitude of aerial threats, including drones, rockets, and artillery. With near-endless magazines and unmatched precision, laser weapons are the future of warfare for the battlefield and an added layer of protection against adversarial threats for the Soldier.