According to news reports by defence publications, the US Army recently completed a live-fire test of its Stryker-based Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) system prototypes with 50 KW lasers at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The tests demonstrated the prototypes have the ability to target unmanned aerial systems in the Group 1, 2 and 3 categories, according to Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch, head of the Army Rapid Capabilities and Technologies Office.
The US Army is taking delivery of the first platoon-set of the systems, following initial training with two directed energy mobile SHORAD prototypes at Yuma. Two more prototypes are due for training with soldiers in the coming months.
The US Army uses directed energy M-SHORAD and kinetic M-SHORAD and is reviewing how it deploys short range and longer range air-defense systems. The Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) in partnership with Army Test and Evaluation Command, will take the DE M-SHORAD into a user assessment beginning in the fourth quarter of FY23 through the first quarter of FY24.
(Image: Raytheon)
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