General Dynamics Land Systems has made a strategic agreement with Epirus Inc. to collaborate with their directed energy weapons into its Stryker combat vehicles, a press release reported.
The Stryker has always contributed to the advancement of warfare since 2002. These combat vehicles had to be protected from the rocket-propelled grenades in Iraq. However, it was found out that they were lacking unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Europe. In the anticipation of drone swarms, the company aims to develop something to combat it.
The defense manufacture team has collaborated with the Los Angeles-based Epirus Inc. to expedite the production. Epirus has made a counter-electronics system, Leonidas, capable of handling single as well as multiple threats.
According to its website, the system uses software-defined high-power microwave (HPM) technology. The company states that the progress made in the directed energy weapon systems allows it to dramatically decrease the size of the system and it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to control solid-state power amplifiers that produce extremely high power outputs.
The system makes use of the open control architecture that will facilitate easy integration not only into the Stryker system but any other existing platforms across the U.S. military. Besides drones, the system can also be used to counter electronics used by adversaries, rendering them bereft of technology during combat.
“This partnership with Epirus benefits the Army’s Stryker mobile Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) formations by offering cutting-edge, counter-electronics and counter-swarm capabilities,” said Danny Deep, President of General Dynamics Land Systems in a press release.
It was also found out that in August, the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) had made a laser weapon to improve its SHORAD capabilities.