Exclusive: First Operational Use for U.S. Army Laser Weapons with DE M-SHORAD Air Defense Vehicle.

According to information published by the U.S. Army on June 27, 2025, a groundbreaking live-fire exercise at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, marked the most advanced step yet in integrating directed energy weapons into frontline air defense. The event, conducted by the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in partnership with the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), saw soldiers test the Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system mounted on a Stryker 8x8 vehicle. This live engagement included targeting a swarm of Group 1-3 unmanned aerial systems (UAS), reflecting the growing threat landscape in contemporary theaters of operation.
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Directed Energy DE M-SHORAD laser weapon air defense vehicle in action at Fort Sill, demonstrating the future of air defense during a live-fire exercise. (Picture source: U.S. Army)

The exercise showcased the operational synergy between laser-based directed energy systems and traditional kinetic M-SHORAD platforms, highlighting a layered defense approach. By combining both technologies, the Army is developing a responsive and scalable defense architecture tailored to counter fast-evolving aerial threats, especially small drones that can evade or saturate conventional defenses. The testing phase is directly feeding into the development of the Army's FY26 Enduring High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program, which is slated to become the first directed energy program of record, setting the path for full-scale deployment.

The capability demonstration also emphasized troop-level integration of the new technology, focusing on refining tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for real-world deployment. Soldiers were required to make split-second decisions in complex threat environments, manage target deconfliction, and apply engagement protocols suitable for both directed energy and kinetic systems. These exercises not only tested the hardware but validated the operational frameworks necessary for real-time combat effectiveness.

Despite the rising promise of DE (Direct Energy) laser weapons, the U.S. Army underscored the enduring relevance of kinetic systems. The current approach envisions DE systems augmenting, not replacing, existing assets, thereby ensuring a redundant and fail-safe air defense network. As laser and high-powered microwave technologies mature, they offer unmatched precision and low per-shot cost, critical for countering massed drone attacks that are becoming a hallmark of near-peer and asymmetric adversaries.

This milestone in Oklahoma signals a clear pivot in U.S. Army doctrine toward a future where Stryker-mounted laser weapons become a frontline reality. The DE M-SHORAD is rapidly emerging as a cornerstone of the Army’s evolving strategy to maintain air superiority and protect maneuver forces in an increasingly drone-saturated battlefield.

The DE M-SHORAD system, also known as the “Guardian,” is a 50-kilowatt class high-energy laser weapon integrated onto the Stryker A1 8x8 armored vehicle. This integration is part of the Multi-Mission High Energy Laser (MMHEL) program, aimed at providing a mobile, directed energy capability to counter aerial threats. The laser system, developed by Raytheon Technologies, includes a beam director, an electro-optical/infrared target acquisition and tracking system, and a Ku720 multi-mission radar, all managed by Kord Technologies, which also provides the power management and cooling systems.

The Stryker A1 platform, known for its Double-V Hull (DVH) configuration, offers enhanced survivability against mines and improvised explosive devices. Powered by a Caterpillar C9 engine producing 450 horsepower, the vehicle supports the energy demands of the laser system while maintaining mobility. The DE M-SHORAD's laser weapon is powered by lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (Li-NCA) batteries, recharged by onboard diesel generators, ensuring sustained operations in various combat scenarios.

Designed to protect divisions and brigade combat teams, the DE M-SHORAD system is capable of neutralizing unmanned aircraft systems, rotary and fixed-wing threats, as well as rockets, artillery, and mortars. Its deployment marks a significant advancement in the U.S. Army's efforts to integrate directed energy weapons into its air defense strategy, providing a low-cost-per-engagement solution to emerging aerial threats.

Laser weapons today represent a transformational shift in the way modern militaries approach aerial defense. Unlike conventional munitions that can be exhausted and are logistically burdensome, lasers offer virtually unlimited ammunition constrained only by power supply. Their ability to engage threats at the speed of light with extreme precision, minimal collateral damage, and minimal operational cost makes them highly effective against drone swarms and low-flying projectiles. In a future dominated by drone warfare and saturation attacks, laser weapons provide a technological edge that reduces logistical footprints while enabling persistent defense coverage.

The integration of the DE M-SHORAD laser weapon air defense vehicle within active U.S. Army units demonstrates that directed energy weapons are no longer theoretical but are transitioning into deployable battlefield assets. As adversaries invest in low-cost aerial threats to challenge established air dominance, the ability to neutralize these threats with high-efficiency, scalable, and sustainable systems like the DE M-SHORAD offers a decisive advantage. The future of air defense is increasingly shaped by precision energy rather than volume firepower, and the U.S. Army is clearly positioning itself at the forefront of this revolution.