During the AUSA 2024 fair, Leonardo DRS and BlueHalo presented a new directed energy system designed to counter unmanned threats (C-UAS) integrated into an 8×8 Stryker armored combat vehicle (VCBR). This development aims to enhance ground forces’ capability to face the growing threat of drones on the battlefield.
The directed energy system, which was successfully tested prior to the fair, uses a high-power laser to detect, track, and neutralize hostile drones. The combination of this technology with the 8×8 Stryker platform provides a mobile and effective solution for tactical operations, allowing combat units to maintain superiority in complex and dynamic environments.
During the demonstrations, Leonardo DRS highlighted that the integration of the system into the Stryker allows it to operate on the move, eliminating drones without the need to stop. This approach significantly increases troop protection, as it reduces exposure by maintaining constant mobility on the ground. Directed energy not only destroys drones in flight but also mitigates the threat of swarms, a tactic increasingly used by non-state actors.
BlueHalo, a partner in the development of the system, emphasized the importance of this technology for future air defense. The C-UAS system enables more precise operations at lower operational costs compared to traditional methods, as it does not rely on missiles or ammunition to neutralize threats. Furthermore, it is effective in a wide range of weather conditions and urban scenarios.
The system also includes advanced sensors to improve threat detection and classification, ensuring that only hostile targets are intercepted. The Stryker platform equipped with this technology allows units to quickly adapt to emerging challenges on the battlefield, offering a combination of mobility, protection, and offensive capability.
This development represents a joint effort by Leonardo DRS and BlueHalo to meet the U.S. Army’s needs in an increasingly digitized warfare context.
You may also like: ZM at AUSA 2024 – The South Korean company Hanwha Defense presents the new version of its K9A2 Thunder self-propelled howitzer in the U.S.
