Directed energy Stryker destroys drones in US Army live-fire demonstration

Leonardo DRS, Inc and BlueHalo announced today the successful live-fire demonstration of a new counter uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) Directed Energy (DE) Stryker designed to defeat Group 1-3 UAS with multiple kinetic and non-kinetic defeat technologies.

During September’s demonstration for US Army officials, the mobile C-UAS capability successfully destroyed numerous drones using BlueHalo’s 26kW LOCUST laser weapon system. Additionally, the demonstration included near-simultaneous C-UAS and ground engagements with the laser and a 30mm remote weapon station (RWS). Leonardo reports that the C-UAS DE Stryker successfully destroyed every drone over the two-day demonstration.

The new C-UAS DE Stryker was designed, built and tested within eight months, combining technologies from EOS Defense Systems USA, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Digital Systems Engineering, Arnold Defense, and AMPEX as well as Leonardo and Blue Halo.

The Stryker includes two primary kinetic effectors – EOS Defense Systems’ USA R400 30mm RWS with Northrop Grumman’s XM914 cannon and BAE Systems’ 2.75” advanced precision kill weapon system fired from an Arnold Defense launcher. The on-board radar is DRS’ RPS-92 nMHR which provides long-range detection, continuous tracking, and weapon system cueing. As the lead vehicle integrator, DRS Land Systems worked across the coalition to integrate these capabilities.

Non-kinetic effectors include BlueHalo’s LOCUST LWS, which is stored inside the Stryker and deployed when a threat is detected. The 26-kilowatt LWS tracks, identifies, and defeats Group 1-3 UAS and other threats. In addition to the LOCUST LWS, the Stryker employs BlueHalo’s Titan C-UAS and Titan-SV non-kinetic technologies, delivering 360 degree surveillance and threat detection and mitigation of Group 1 and 2 drone threats.