The first prototype platoon, which will consist of Directed Energy Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) Stryker vehicles outfitted with 50-kilowatt laser weapons dubbed the ‘Guardian,’ is “set to arrive” at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in January, a spokesman for the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) told Task & Purpose.The fielding of the 50-kW DE M-SHORAD system comes after then-RCCTO chief Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood promised in August that the new laser-equipped Strykers would be delivered to an air defense battery at Fort Sill “within the next 45 days,” or by October 2022.According to Defense News, RCCTO officials decided to keep the DE M-SHORAD laser system in the development phase for a few extra months to ensure the final product can be produced and fielded at scale.The Army is so bullish on laser-equipped infantry carriers that RCCTO is currently pursuing the development of a 20 kW laser weapon to accompany the Infantry Squad Vehicle assault buggy downrange, as Breaking Defense previously reported.- We salute the Marine Corps vet who chugged a beer from her prosthetic leg at a Lakers game- Combat medic ‘voluntold’ to attend Army Best Squad competition ends up dominating the range- Air Force F-35 maintainer shares what it’s like keeping ‘a flying computer’ ready to fight- Why modern technology hasn’t rendered trench warfare useless in UkraineWant to write for Task & Purpose?"