The U.S. Army plans to work with the U.S. Navy to integrate a drone-defeating laser into the former’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, Military.com reported Tuesday. Previously, the Army developed a High Energy Laser Tactical Vehicle Demonstrator platform that includes a 100-kilowatt laser designed to target swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, military deputy to the  assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said at an Association of the U.S. Army Institute of Land Warfare event that the service branch is seeking help from the Navy to further the Army’s High Energy Laser program.
“The intent is to work with the Navy, and we are doing that right now, in order to increase the power of that laser system from beyond 100-kilowatt up to maybe the 250-kilowatt mark,” he said.
The Army is looking to demonstrate the laser-equipped FMTV’s target-defeating features over the next three years. The service is also planning to deploy 50-kilowatt Maneuver Short Range Air Defense lasers onto Stryker vehicles by fiscal 2022.
