The Military Is Mounting Laser Weapons on Tanks

Laser Tank

The U.S. Army is developing tanks and drones armed with laser weapons. The Army's stock of armored Stryker tanks may soon get a laser cannon upgrade, as well as the capability to launch "hunter-killer" drones, according to Defense Maven.

The laser-equipped vehicles and drones would be able to autonomously target, track, and disable targets with invisible lasers, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in militaries around the world — a futuristic upgrade to the U.S. military's ground combat capabilities.

Drone Hunting

The laser weapon is expected to be combat-ready within the next few years — the army has successfully used it to target and shoot down drones during tests. It's also been able to successfully disrupt communications and block drones' signals, Defense Maven writes.

Congress wants these lasers to speed up the process of warfare and combat, giving the U.S. military the edge it needs to beat its enemies to the draw.

"[Directed energy] weapons have the potential to change the very nature of warfare," reads a February report from the Congressional Research Service. The report also said the laser systems "could be used as both a sensor and a weapon, thereby shortening the sensor-to-shooter timeline to seconds. This means that U.S. weapon systems could conduct multiple engagements against a target before an adversary could respond."

Tactical Deployment

General Dynamics Land Systems, the company behind the Stryker and its new lasers, told Defense Maven that the lasers may be suitable for crowded areas, where they could detect and target threats.

"It will go out in an urban environment and it will sense and find your shooter or incoming RPG," said General Dynamics Land Systems' Michael Peck.

But for now, the Army will continue testing its new lasers to make sure that they're ready to be deployed in the next few years.

More on lasers: The Navy is Incinerating Hard Drives About Laser Weapon Research

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