US Army’s new short-range air defense system debut in exercise

The U.S. Army’s newest Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system is making its debut at military exercise Saber Strike.

According to the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, the new short-range air defense system has destroyed a drone target over the Gulf of Finland during a live-fire demonstration for exercise Saber Strike 22 in Rutja

“This is the exercise debut of the four prototype M-SHORAD platforms which will fill a critical capability for the Army, providing air defense for maneuver forces,” the news release says.

M-SHORAD is a Stryker-mounted air defense platform, providing the Army with a replacement to the legacy Avenger system. Better armored, better armed, and more mobile than the system it’s replacing the M-SHORAD is going to provide the Soldier with a flexible air defense solution that can keep up with a unit on the move, closing out a vulnerability as the use of low altitude threats like helicopters and small drones is on the rise.