The US Army has successfully tested the Directed Energy (DE) Stryker, a revolutionary Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) that employs a 26-kilowatt laser to destroy drones for under $3 per beam. Every drone target was destroyed by the Stryker, which was outfitted with BlueHalo’s 26kW Locust Laser Weapon System (LWS), during the two-day test that took place in Socorro, New Mexico. The technology is a component of a $10 million laser weapon program that is intended to protect battlefields against unmanned aerial threats.
Group 1-3 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are intended to be tackled by the C-UAS DE Stryker using both kinetic and non-kinetic technologies. It used a 30mm remote weapon station (RWS) to handle ground targets and drones in tandem with success. This live-fire exercise demonstrated the Stryker’s ability to effectively and precisely neutralize a variety of threats.
Leading provider of mobile air defense technologies Leonardo DRS led this work with assistance from BlueHalo, EOS Defense Systems, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems, among others. They created this Stryker-based laser system in eight months, demonstrating their capacity to provide the US Army with cutting-edge air defense capabilities fast. Senior Vice President Aaron Hankins of Leonardo DRS Land Systems stressed the team’s commitment to provide warfighters with capabilities that are ready for the future now.
The Stryker’s on-board radar, DRS’ RPS-92 nMHR, enhances threat detection with long-range tracking and weapon system cueing. The Locust LWS combines advanced optics and software to precisely track, identify, and neutralize drones, making it a critical asset in modern warfare. Additionally, the Stryker features BlueHalo’s Titan C-UAS technologies for comprehensive 360° surveillance.
Mary Clum, BlueHalo’s Portfolio President, praised the modular design and ease of integration of the Locust LWS, making it ideal for deployment on the Stryker vehicle. The C-UAS DE Stryker represents a collaboration of industry leaders aiming to provide innovative, battlefield-ready solutions to protect soldiers against evolving aerial threats, ensuring the Army’s dominance in contested environments.
 Stryker, a revolutionary Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) that employs a 26-kilowatt laser to destroy drones for under $3 per beam. Every drone target was destroyed by the Stryker, which was outfitted with BlueHalo’s 26kW Locust Laser Weapon System (LWS), during the two-day test that […]&media=https://wonderfulengineering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1-35.webp){kind=link}