DE M-SHORADS (Directed Energy Maneuver Short Range Air Defense System)

2024: Combat applications in Iraq

In early April 2024, it became known that the army USA uses Iraq laser weapons in combat conditions. Such installations are used to destroy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), missiles and artillery shells.

We are talking about the DE M-SHORES laser system (Directed Energy Maneuver Short Range Air Defense System) - a maneuverable directed energy weapon of close air defense. The complex was developed by the American corporation RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation). It is mounted on the chassis of the Stryker armored personnel carrier. The power of the laser gun is 50 kW.

source = U.S. Army

The laser is designed to engage aerial targets. It is controlled by a radar detection system, a guidance sensor, and a beam control system. The platform also includes a multispectral guidance system originally mounted on Predator drones, a sphere-shaped turret with an electro-optical/infrared camera, a laser target designator, and a laser illuminator.

The complex is designed for air defense of the ground forces. The laser system, equipped with armor protection, weighs about 7 tons. In this version, Stryker has a maximum speed of almost 100 km/h. To control the platform, a laptop of increased strength and a special manipulator are used, which looks like a traditional controller from game consoles.

In terms of drone damage, lasers have a number of advantages over other existing control systems. Unlike cannon and missile systems, the laser theoretically has an unlimited number of shots - provided it is connected to the power system. And compared to electronic warfare, lasers do not disrupt the work of third-party radio equipment.^[1]

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