The US Army is preparing a new air defense and missile defense strategy — what to expect before 2040?

 

In about three months, the U.S. Army will officially unveil its new air and Missile Defense (Air Defense) strategy./ABM), covering the period up to 2040. This document will not just be another plan — it will define how the American army will protect its forces, allies and interests in an era when threats from the air and from space are becoming more complex, rapid and diverse.

Why is the strategy appearing right now?

Because the war has changed. What used to be a fantasy from science fiction is now reality.:

- Hypersonic missiles that fly at a speed of Mach 5+ and can maneuver, making them almost invulnerable to older air defense systems.

- Massive drone attacks — from cheap tactical UAVs to kamikaze missiles like the Shahed.

- Cruise and ballistic missiles of medium and short range, which can be launched from land, sea and even from submarines.

- Cyber attacks on air defense systems to blind radars or disable command nodes.

All this requires a completely new approach. And old systems like Patriot or THAAD, although effective, can no longer cope alone.

What will be in the new strategy?

The official document has not yet been published, but according to leaks and statements by officials, key areas can be identified.:

1. Integrated Air Defense/Missile Defense Network (IBCS)  

   Everything should work as a single organism: radars, missiles, drones and satellites — in one network. The goal is to "see once — strike from anywhere." If the radar in Germany detects a target, the missile can be launched by a system in Poland.

2. Lasers and railguns (DE M-SHORAD and IFPC-HEL)

The Army is actively testing combat lasers and electromagnetic guns (railguns). They are cheaper than missiles, can fire almost indefinitely, and are ideal for repelling drone and rocket attacks. By the 2030s, they can become the basis of tactical defense.

3. Satellite Tracking Network (Space-Based Sensor Layer)

Satellites will continuously monitor hypersonic targets from the moment of launch. This is the key to interception, because such missiles are difficult to detect from the ground.

4. Hybrid defense: from tactics to strategy 

   The strategy will cover all levels, from protecting a single infantry unit (using interceptor drones and mini-lasers) to global defense against intercontinental missiles.

5. Focus on China and Russia 

   The document will be clearly focused on competition with the great powers. The main scenarios are conflict in the Taiwan Strait, tensions in Europe and threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

6. Compatibility with allies  

   The new systems will be developed taking into account compatibility with NATO, Japan, South Korea and other partners. This is important for common defense and data exchange.

What is already working?

Some elements of the future strategy are already being tested:

- DE M-SHORAD— a 50-kilowatt laser mounted on a Stryker armored personnel carrier.

- IFPC Inc 2-I is a system capable of intercepting drones, missiles and artillery shells.

- LTAMDS is a new radar for Patriot capable of seeing hypersonic targets.

And what about the budget?

No way without money. The US Army is asking for billions of dollars to implement the strategy. But with shortages and rising costs for other programs (including cybersecurity and AI), priorities will have to be chosen.

Why until 2040?

Because a new generation of threats is on the way. By 2040, there may be:

- Hypersonic missiles with AI guidance.

- Autonomous drone packs.

- Orbital weapons.

- Electromagnetic pulses (EMP) as a means of mass destruction.

The US Army wants not just to catch up, but to get ahead.

 Result

A new air defense strategy/Missile defense is not just a defense plan, but a look into the future of war. It will show how the United States intends to stay ahead when the enemy can attack from land, sea, air, space and even from digital space.

When the document is released, the world will know how ready America is for a war that no one has seen before.

The US Army tested laser air defense on Stryker infantry fighting vehicles

Stryker A1 8x8 with DE M-SHORAD laser

The US Army has conducted new exercises involving the DE M-SHORAD laser anti-aircraft system mounted on a Stryker armored vehicle. This is part of a larger program to create a mobile air defense system that combines both conventional machine guns and missiles, as well as modern directed energy weapons.

What is DE M-SHORAD?

This is a 50 kilowatt laser mounted on a Stryker A1 8x8 armored vehicle. It was created as part of the FY26 Enduring High-Energy Laser (E-HEL) program, which began back in 2019. The goal is to give troops a new tool to deal with drones, mortar shells, missiles, and even small helicopters or airplanes.

The laser does not work like a "death ray" from fiction, but as a point thermal weapon — it heats the target until it fails or explodes. For this purpose, a sophisticated guidance system is used, combining a Ku-band radar, electro-optical sensors and an infrared camera.

During the exercises, the laser was used together with the classic weapons of the M-SHORAD maneuverable system, including Stinger missiles and a 30 mm cannon. Both systems worked simultaneously, which allowed us to test how they complement each other when repelling drone attacks weighing up to **600 kg** (groups 1-3).

Interestingly, the laser is powered by a hybrid electrical system: the machine is equipped with lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminate batteries, which are charged by diesel generators. This makes the system quite autonomous even in the field.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Juhas, such exercises are important for shaping future combat tactics. Lasers will not completely replace traditional weapons, but they will become its reliable complement. After all, the more ways to intercept a danger, the higher the chances of stopping it.

In addition, the laser allows you to save ammunition, quickly recharge between targets and reduces the risk of collateral damage — that is, secondary damage from hits in the wrong place.

Tests have shown that laser air defense can already be an effective means of combating modern threats. Now the task of engineers and the military is to bring the technology to mass production and teach it how to use it on the battlefield.  

If everything goes according to plan, lasers will become a standard part of the US Army's defense systems in a few years.

US Army Deploys Four DE M-SHORAD Laser Prototypes Abroad to Test Next-Gen Air Defense Capabilities

 

DE M-SHORAD

The US Army has deployed four prototypes of short-range directed energy maneuvering (DE M-SHORAD) air defense systems abroad, marking an important milestone in the development of laser-based air defense capabilities.The deployment, which began in February 2024, is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the system against a range of aerial threats, including drones, aircraft, as well as rocket, artillery and mortar fire.The DE M-SHORAD system is installed on the Stryker Mortar Carrier Double V-Hull A1 platform and is equipped with a combined spectral beam laser with a power of 50 kilowatts., designed to provide a non-kinetic alternative to traditional missile defense. The system uses lithium-nickel cobalt-aluminum oxide batteries (Li-NCA), which are charged from on-board diesel generators, which ensures continuous operation in combat conditions.