Future Weapons of War: Navy Wants Anti-Drone Laser Trucks

The Ground-Based Air Defense Directed Energy On-the-Move (GBAD) weapons program integrates a laser on the back of a Humvee and sensors on two other Humvees, to detect a low-flying drone and then bring it down with a high powered laser.

"We're confident we can bring together all of these pieces in a package that's small enough to be carried on light tactical vehicles and powerful enough to counter these threats," said Brig. Gen. Kevin Killea, vice chief of naval research and commanding general, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory.

"We can expect that our adversaries will increasingly use UAVs and our expeditionary forces must deal with that rising threat," said Col. William Zamagni, acting head of ONR's Expeditionary Maneuver Warfare and Combating Terrorism Department. 

The US Navy Office of Naval Research, responsible for directing the research of weapon systems for the Marine Corps, has spent $11 million to develop this vehicle-based laser device.

Researchers plan to test the entire system against targets using a 10kW laser as a stepping stone to a 30kW laser, later on this year.

Tests will evaluate the complete intercept process, from detection and tracking to firing, all battle-damage assessment, all based on sensors and effectors integrated on the test vehicle, Defense Update reported.