On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Army conducted a breakthrough live-fire test at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, marking the most advanced use yet of a vehicle-mounted laser weapon in air defense.
The 4th Battalion of the 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, alongside the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), tested the Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system, mounted on an 8×8 Stryker vehicle. The system successfully neutralized a swarm of drones (Group 1–3), simulating modern aerial threats.
This drill showcased the synergy between laser-based systems and traditional kinetic air defense platforms, advancing a layered defense approach. By integrating both technologies, the Army is building a scalable and responsive defense framework against rapidly evolving aerial threats like drone swarms.
The test supports development of the Army’s E-HEL (Extended-range High Energy Laser) program for fiscal year 2026, expected to become the Army’s first formal directed energy weapon deployment.