![As a plug-and-play solution, CMFF is agile by nature and Leonardo DRS is future-proofing the systems for emerging or new capability requirements. (Leonardo DRS photo)](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/As-a-plug-and-play-solution-CMFF-is-agile-by-nature-and-Leonardo-DRS-is-future-proofing-the-systems-for-emerging-or-new-capability-requirements.-Leonardo-DRS-photo-350x233.jpeg)
![Iraq says its spending big on artillery and jets. Can it afford them?](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/iraq_tank-225x150.jpg)
The government in Baghdad has announced new contracts for US-made weapons, but it’s not clear if the system will ever come to fruition.
By Agnes Helou![Iron Dome Is Coming To US; Can The Army Plug It In?](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2020/08/Oshkosh-offloads-from-Antonov-IMG-20200803-WA0017-225x150.jpg)
Israel’s Rafael will soon ship the first missile defense battery to the US and wants to build a factory here. The really hard part: connecting Iron Dome to US Army command networks.
By Arie Egozi![Israelis Seek Lasers Vs. Hamas, Hezbollah Rocket Barrages](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2018/12/Screen-Shot-2018-12-11-at-4.23.01-PM-225x150.png)
Israel largely abandoned lasers 12 years ago, but “there is a growing number of experts that understand the mistake that was made,” a senior Israeli source told Breaking Defense. “(We’re) ready to restart development with the more advanced building blocks available today.”
By Arie Egozi![Inside Army Futures Command: CFT Chiefs Take Charge](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2014/12/Rugen-Walter-COL-Army-G-8-IMG_0982-225x150.jpg)
“We were never above probably a total of eight people,” the aviation Cross Functional Team chief, Brig. Gen. Wally Rugen, told me. “We’re not this big colossal thing, we’re a lean, mean organization.”
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.![It’s Raytheon Vs. Dynetics/Lockheed For Army’s 100 kW Laser](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2018/08/ART1556-02B-2_Laser-truck_false-laser_v1-225x150.jpg)
Lockheed is as close to an incumbent as you get in the rapidly evolving world of high-energy fiber lasers. Raytheon, by contrast, only recently made a big play for laser weapons, but they can draw on their experience with lower-powered but exquisitely tuned laser sensors.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.![Army Accelerates Air & Missile Defense Five Years: MSHORAD, MML, Lasers](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2018/01/Army-MML-firing-front-225x150.jpg)
Today, Brig. Gen. McIntire told me, Army field artillery and air & missile defense are like two boxers, one who can only punch and the other who can only block. “We’ve got to have one boxer that has the ability to strike and block simultaneously,” he said. “That’s the speed that we’re going to need in the future.”
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.![Army: 50 kW Laser Stryker By 2021, 100 kW FMTV Truck By 2022](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2017/05/Army-MEHEL-laser-stryker-at-Ft-Sill-MFIX-225x150.jpg)
HUNTSVILLE, ALA.: The Army keeps putting more powerful lasers on smaller vehicles. Battlefield lasers in testing today can shoot down snooping quadcopters and other small drones. By the early 2020s, however vehicles mobile enough to keep up with combat brigades – Strykers and FMTV trucks – will have power in the 50 to 100 kilowatt…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.![Army Races To Rebuild Short-Range Air Defense: New Lasers, Vehicles, Units](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2016/10/avenger_03-225x150.jpg)
ARLINGTON: As Russia and other adversaries stock up on drones, rockets, and missiles, the US Army is building up defenses to shoot them down. But that Short-Range Air Defense force has been devastated by a decade of cuts. The service’s plan to revive SHORAD involves deploying to Europe about 50 more of its current Avenger…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.![Lasers Vs. Drones: Directed Energy Summit Emphasizes The Achievable](https://sites.breakingmedia.com/uploads/sites/3/2016/06/Quadcopter-destroyed-by-Army-laser-size0-225x150.jpg)
WASHINGTON: When do laser weapons finally become real? The low-hanging fruit for a near-term application looks like it’s shooting down enemy drones before they can target US forces. Both the Army and Marines are testing vehicle-mounted “counter-UAS” (Unmanned Aerial System) lasers, while the Navy already has a bulkier model aboard the USS Ponce in the…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.