The concept of laser use in war has long appeared to be the stuff of film. Yet, in the last decade or so, powerful laser technology moved from science fiction into reality as actual combat technologies on actual battlefields. The most glaring proof of this transition is America deploying Stryker ground combat vehicles with high-power lasers for taking out drones, rockets, artillery, and mortar fire quickly and at low cost.
From Concept to Combat: The Stryker Laser Weapon Program
After years of testing and prototype development, the Army finally took the step of equipping a platoon of Stryker vehicles with 50-kilowatt-class high-energy lasers. They’re part of the Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense program, or DE M-SHORAD. In early 2023, following extensive prototyping and live-fire testing, the first laser-armed Stryker platoon rolled into Fort Sill, Oklahoma—a major step toward the modernization of U.S. military capabilities.
Technical Breakthroughs: Why HEL Systems Are a Game Changer
So, why exactly are these laser weapons such a game-changer? For one, they’re accurate and scalable. Rather than having to carry physical ammunition, these systems employ energy, so they basically have an unlimited number of shots as long as they have power. They can provide a full 360 degrees of coverage, be mounted on multiple platforms, and be made robust to handle extreme conditions. Raytheon’s open-architecture design also enables the systems to be tailored for various missions, land, sea, or air.
Real-World Testing and Operational Success
Real-world performance is paramount, and the laser systems did not disappoint. In live-fire exercises at White Sands Missile Range, Raytheon and Kord teams demonstrated the Stryker-mounted laser could engage and destroy multiple targets—60mm mortars and drones of various sizes. Annabel Flores, head of Raytheon’s Electronic Warfare Systems, said the most difficult to counter were rockets, artillery, and mortars—and the system worked. Byron Bright from KBR contributed that an “effectively infinite magazine” with a very low cost per shot provides the Army with a significant advantage in combating current threats.
The Strategic Edge: Why Lasers Matter Now
As cheap aerial threats and drone attacks become increasingly prevalent, old-school air defense systems are beginning to prove their weaknesses—expensive and difficult to administer. Laser weapons are a game-changer. They’re quick, precise, low-cost, and simple to deploy, with much lower chances of collateral damage. That’s the very reason the Army is moving forward with platforms such as the laser-mounted Stryker—to remain competitive in an environment of rapidly shifting threats.
The Road Ahead for Directed Energy Weapons
With the first platoon of laser-equipped vehicles now in action and more on their way, it’s clear that the Army sees directed energy as a long-term complement to its arsenal. They have been field-tested for combat and already have thousands of operating hours under their belts. As the world advances and technology is being extended to other platforms, the future war is becoming less of a pipedream and more of the reality of today, with its precision, velocity, and light.
