As we wait for new developments in airsoft, which probably will be announced next month, let’s get into stuff that apart from firearms that will interest airsoft players and it is about military vehicles. Now, what is interesting is that laser technology is getting more mature for military applications that the U.S. Army may just equip their vehicles come next year.

In a report from Scout Warrior, the U.S. Army and General Dynamics are developing a laser system that can be installed on the Stryker Interim Armored Vehicles (IAV). The Strykers are fast moving 8-wheeled armored vehicles produced by General Dynamics Land Systems for the U.S. Army.  The Stryker has different variants, from being an infantry carrier, to reconnaissance, mobile guns system, and even a mortar carrier.

The laser system is a vehicle protection system in which it scans the immediate area of the vehicle and if there is an incoming threat coming from the air, will be able to destroy it. It can protect the vehicle and soldiers from incoming missiles, mortars and artillery rounds. It’s not exactly a force field system, which is a more passive one, but a more active defensive system that quickly reacts to incoming aerial threats.

If everything goes to plan, the laser system will be installed in 11 months on the M1131 Stryker Fire Support Vehicle (FSV). The FSV can conduct target acquisition/identification/tracking/designation and transmits this to other units and has surveillance and communications facilities.

In case other sensors in the vehicle go down, the system can operate its own radar for target acquisition and jammers to jam signals of enemy drones. In the same Scout Warrior story, the laser has been tested and shot down 21 of 23 drone targets. The laser system can also be integrated with air defense and artillery networks.

The developers are looking into being able to develop an 18-kilowatt laser by 2018 which means more power to be able to quickly melt and damage or destroy components of the incoming threat. The one thing that they will need to solve is the power source to power the system that can be carried by the vehicle while on the move.

Using laser systems instead or missiles or rounds to defend vehicles and other units will be more cost effective. Missiles can run from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars and thus, lasers provide more value on a shot-per-kill basis.

If you are thinking of Star Wars, then you might not be far off. Lasers are in play for now, but X-Wings, Tie Fighters, and Imperial Star Destroyers are still too far in the future.

Top photo: M1126 Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel N. Woods, U.S. Navy.