Thread by @AirPowerNEW1

"Developed in under a year, Stryker #Leonidas was recently field demonstrated, successfully disabling individual drone targets & swarms of drones. Leonidas’ counter-swarm effectiveness fills a pressing short range air defense (SHORAD) capability gap for the joint force." ~ Epirus

Highly efficient S-S High Power Microwave systems along with HEL's are going to be vital to defend against the scores relatively inexpensive group 1-2 UAS and loitering munitions. I wouldn't be surprised if the Stryker-Leonidas is put on contract for operational prototypes soon.

The US Army is not unaware of the potential of these systems or their need. Senior Army leaders have often said that the current Maneuver SHORAD capability being fielded will feature a 2/3 kinetic to 1/3 Directed-Energy mix. The DE side will likely be split b/w HEL & HPM systems.

So where are we with progress of moving these things from demonstrations to actual production and operational usage? Current Status of HPM 👇

https://twitter.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1663182166573080578

The 50kW HEL #DEMSHORAD Program. Small steps with the first platoon serving as proof of concept of the operational prototypes but this will be a production program starting FY24/25 👇

https://twitter.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1652715394883530752

Biggest barrier to fielding a large number of these?

Short term: production scaling.

Mid-Long term: The current acquisition system. We field AD capability over years if not decades given how long interceptor production programs last. DE systems have most of their cost upfront