The U.S. Army has awarded a contract for the rapid prototyping and fielding of a mobile directed energy weapon. The prototype system will consist of 50-kilowatt lasers mounted on a platoon of four wheeled Stryker vehicles as part of the Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) mission. M-SHORAD provides defense against airborne threats, such as unmanned aerial systems, helicopters, rockets, artillery, and mortars.
A $200 million, three-year contract was awarded to Kord Technologies, which itself awarded subcontracts to Raytheon and Northrop Grumman for laser weapon modules. Kord is also working with General Dynamics Land Systems, which makes the Stryker vehicle.
The directed-energy Strykers are expected to be available in fiscal year 2022.
Shaun's deep-rooted interest in military equipment continues in his role as a senior defense analyst with a focus on the United States. He played an integral role in the development of Forecast International's U.S. Defense Budget Forecast, an interactive online product that tracks Pentagon acquisition programs throughout the congressional budget process. As editor of International Military Markets – North America, Shaun has cultivated a deep understanding of the vast defense markets in the United States and Canada. He is a regular contributor to Forecast International's Defense & Security Monitor blog and has co-authored white papers on global defense spending and various military programs.
