U.S. Army Tests High-Energy Laserin Iraq

While drones are in full swing in the Middle East, the U.S. is testing laser weapons on Stryker armored vehicles in Iraq.
According to the head of U.S. Central Command, the U.S.is testing high-energy lasers in Iraq as part of a broader effort to improve directed-energy weapons and more effectively counter drones. Earlier this year, the U.S. Army sent several laser weapons mounted on Stryker combat vehicles to the Middle East. The exact location of the prototypes is unclear, but the move is intended to advance the Army's close-range air defense objectives.
On March 21, U.S. Central Command Commander Michael Kurilla told Congress that there are "currently" "three 50-kilowatt laser weapons mounted on Stryker armored vehicles" in Iraq. ". He also said that tests were underway to determine their optimal use, but did not disclose the initial results of the tests.
High-energy lasers and related high-powered microwave weapons are capable of shooting down incoming objects in non-traditional ways and at a fraction of the cost of conventional munitions. Lasers can fire at the speed of light and burn holes in the surface of objects, but are susceptible to weather conditions and particles such as airborne sand. Microwaves can destroy electronic devices on a large scale, but their effectiveness is compromised at longer distances.
Both weapons are considered a key part of layered defense, which means having multiple countermeasures to thwart different threats in different situations. Speaking at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Kurilla said, "Directed energy is not a panacea. I told the services: give me the system, we'll test it, and then we'll tell you if it works in a real environment."