FAVS 2024: US develops directed energy capabilities

The RCCTO delivered DE M-SHORAD prototype systems to the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on 7 September 2023. (US Army)

The US Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) gave an update on its development of directed energy (DE) capabilities at SAE Media Group's Future Armoured Vehicles Survivability (FAVS) 2024 conference being held in London from 11 to 13 November. Colonel Steven Gutierrez, RCCTO project manager for DE Maneuver-Short Range Air Defence (M-SHORAD), told the conference audience on the first day of FAVS 2024 that his organisation was perfecting DE with the aim of staying ahead of potential adversaries.

Supporting the Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO) are 10–20 kW Palletized-High Energy Laser (P-HEL) systems designed to provide force protection against Class 1–2 unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Manoeuvre/mobile air-defence projects include the 20 kW Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL), designed to provide protection against Class 1–2 UAS threats, and the 50 kW DE M-SHORAD countering Class 1–3 UASs, helicopters, and rockets, artillery, and mortars (RAMs). Fixed- and semi-fixed-site protection projects include Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser (IFPC-HEL) to counter threats from Class 1–3 UASs, cruise missiles, RAMs, and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) system to counter Class 1–2 UAS threats and swarms.