Raytheon Intelligence & Space Joins Forces with Kord to Tackle Swarms of Mortars and Drones Using Stryker’s High-Energy Laser Tech
In a recent U.S. Army operational evaluation at White Sands Missile Range, the 50kW-class high-energy laser system exhibited reliable counter-mortar capabilities
Over four weeks of uninterrupted live-fire drills, a collaborative team led by Raytheon Intelligence & Space, a division of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), along with Kord, a wholly owned subsidiary of KBR, neutralized numerous 60mm mortar shells using a 50kW-class high-energy laser mounted on a Stryker combat vehicle.
The directed energy weaponry system — integral to the U.S. Army’s Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense, or DE M-SHORAD — successfully identified, tracked, targeted, and neutralized multiple mortars while efficiently conducting various tests that simulated real-world situations.
Continuing to rigorously test the DE M-SHORAD system, the recent operational evaluation at White Sands Missile Range also encompassed the neutralization of several small, medium, and large drones.
“Troops in the field encounter increasingly intricate threats, and our combat-vetted sensors, software, and lasers are poised to offer them an elevated level of security,” stated Annabel Flores, president of Electronic Warfare Systems for Raytheon Intelligence & Space. “The Army posed our most significant challenge to date — countering rockets, artillery, and mortars — and we took a crucial stride towards delivering the agile, short-range air defense that Soldiers require.”
The DE M-SHORAD initiative is designed to safeguard Soldiers against diverse aerial hazards, including unmanned aerial vehicles, rotary aircraft, rockets, artillery, and mortars. Kord acts as the main integrator for the system mounted on the Stryker combat vehicle, while Raytheon Intelligence & Space supplies the 50kW-class high-energy laser module, a specialized radar engagement system, a beam control mechanism, and targeting sensors.
“This team has once again demonstrated that the HEL system is fully operational and ready to safeguard against intricate threats,” commented Byron Bright, President of KBR Government Solutions. “With an effectively limitless magazine and near-zero cost per engagement, HEL stands as the proven solution to asymmetric dangers like drones and mortars.”
The collaborative industry team, which includes Rocky Research for power and thermal oversight, General Dynamics Land Systems for the Stryker framework, and Applied Technology Associates for supplementary sensors, is preparing to deliver four DE M-SHORAD units to Army Brigade Combat Teams in 2022.
RI&S’ high-energy laser weapon platforms, manufactured in McKinney, Texas, operate on land, in the air, and over water, providing 360-degree defense capable of protecting bases, airports, stadiums, and other key military or civilian assets. The open architecture, scalable energy, and robust design adapt to mission demands. HEL systems can function as standalone units or can be swiftly integrated onto various platforms. Key suppliers for the system are located in Huntsville, Alabama; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Portland, Oregon; East Granby, Connecticut; and Los Angeles, California.
