Fort Sill, OK – June 12, 2025 – Today marks a pivotal moment in air defense evolution as the Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) system was formally inducted into the Fort Sill Museum at the Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility. This event recognizes not only a groundbreaking technological achievement, but also the historic significance of the system and the innovative tactics developed to employ it.
The DE M-SHORAD, a key development from the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), represents a significant leap forward in countering evolving aerial threats. Utilizing a high-energy 50 kW-class laser weapon mounted on a highly mobile platform, the system provides a rapid, scalable, and silent defense against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and other emerging aerial dangers.
"The induction of the first Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) prototype into the Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Training Support Facility (TSF) is a powerful statement in Army transformation. Over the past two years, the Army has advanced from delivering the first platoon set of 50 kW laser weapon-based Strykers to an ADA Battalion, to deploying these systems to operations in theatre. Additionally, the 4-60th ADAR conducted the first-ever kinetic and directed energy live-fire exercise, culminating in their induction into the ADA TSF," said COL Guiterrez, PM for Directed Energy.
Central to the DE M-SHORAD’s success has been the dedicated work of the 4th Battalion, 60th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Soldiers from the 4-60th have been instrumental in forging the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) that will define the system’s operational success. Originally envisioned for a controlled testing phase, the program accelerated in response to the rapidly evolving global threat environment.
Recently, the 4-60th completed a rigorous operational assessment, conducted by the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC), marking the first in-theater controlled assessment of its kind in recent history. This assessment involved 50 live-fire engagements against surrogate Group 1-3 UAS threats, fully integrated with existing base defense architecture. Through this process, the Army successfully validated the system’s performance in a realistic environment and, crucially, refined the TTPs necessary for effective deployment.
“The DE M-SHORAD represents a critical step forward in how the Army counters aerial threats," said Brig. Gen. Glenn Henke, Commandant of the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School. "Its induction into the Fort Sill Museum not only honors a major milestone in directed energy development but also reinforces the Army's commitment to integrating cutting edge technologies that enhance force protection and battlefield dominance.”
The DE M-SHORAD’s induction into the Fort Sill Museum signifies its historical importance as a cornerstone of the Army’s modernization efforts. The system is designed to provide critical air and missile defense of vital assets, in any theater worldwide, in support of the 75th Fires Brigade.
This milestone underscores the Army’s commitment to maintaining technological superiority and adapting to the changing landscape of modern warfare through innovative systems and the Soldiers who master them.
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