Department of Defense Directed Energy Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress
Figure 6. SHiELD Prototype Rendering
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- Multi-Mission HEL (MMHEL) and Directed Energy Maneuver- Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) MMHEL (see Figure 7
| Figure 6. SHiELD Prototype Rendering Source: Lockheed Martin, Tactical Airborne Laser Weapon System, September 14, 2020. Selected Army-Directed Energy Weapons Programs 38 In support of its directed energy strategy, the Army is developing both HEL and HPM weapons with the intent of fielding prototypes to operational units starting in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.” 39 Multi-Mission HEL (MMHEL) and Directed Energy Maneuver- Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) MMHEL (see Figure 7) seeks to integrate a 50 kW-class laser on a Stryker combat vehicle to provide SHORAD support to the Army’s maneuver brigades. The Army has stated that the systems average cost per kill is approximately $30.” 40 The Army expects to conduct testing a laser on a fighter jet Defense News, June 30, 2020, at https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/06/30/us-air- force-delays-timeline-for-testing-a-laser-on-a-fighter-jet/; and Nathan Strout, Air Force to begin assembly of airborne laser C4ISRNET, February 23, 2021, at https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/2021/02/23/air-force-to-begin- assembly-of-airborne-laser/. 36 Valerie Insinna, US Air Force delays timeline for testing a laser on a fighter jet Defense News, June 30, 2020, at https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/06/30/us-air-force-delays-timeline-for-testing-a-laser-on-a-fighter-jet/. 37 Aaron Mehta, Griffin extremely skeptical of airborne lasers for missile defense Defense News, May 20, 2020, at https://www.defensenews.com/2020/05/20/griffin-extremely-skeptical-of-airborne-lasers-for-missile-defense/. 38 This section was written by Andrew Feickert, CRS Specialist in Military Ground Forces. For more information about US. Army DE programs, including information about the Army’s past DE development programs, see CRS Report R, U.S. Army Weapons-Related Directed Energy (DE) Programs Background and Potential Issues for Congress, by Andrew Feickert. 39 Army Directed Energy Strategy Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, August 20, 2021. 40 Richard Sisk, Army Works to Slim Down Powerful New Laser Defense System Military.com, May 2, 2019, at https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/05/01/army-works-slim-down-powerful-new-laser-defense-system.html. Department of Defense Directed Energy Weapons Background and Issues for Congress Congressional Research Service 9 demonstrations in FY to engage a variety of targets to lead to a technology readiness level (TRL) of 7. 41 MMHEL is intended to inform requirements and reduce risk for the Army’s DE M- SHORAD program, which is to deliver four prototype systems in FY2022. 42 Download 1.8 Mb. Share with your friends:
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