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Updated June 1, 2023
U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD)
System
Background
18 additional systems for training, operational spares, and
The Army is procuring and continuing to develop a new
testing, for a total of 162 systems.
maneuver short-range air defense system, or M-SHORAD.
This system would perform short-range air defense, or
M-SHORAD Variants/Increments
SHORAD. The Army defines the SHORAD mission as:
While M-SHORAD is primarily intended to defend
maneuver forces against air threats, it also has the capability
Dedicated air defense artillery (ADA) and non-
to engage a range of ground targets. There are three M-
dedicated air defense capabilities that enable
SHORAD variants, or “Increments,” envisioned by the
movement
and
maneuver
by
destroying,
Army.
neutralizing, or deterring low altitude air threats to
defend critical fixed and semi-fixed assets and
Figure 1. M-SHORAD Increment I
maneuver forces.
Legacy SHORAD ADA systems include the FIM-92
Stinger missile, the Avenger system, and the Land-Based
Phalanx Weapons System (LPWS), which is employed
against rockets, artillery, and mortars.
In the early 2000s, the Army divested ADA units from
Army force structure to free up personnel to create other
types of units deemed more mission-critical at the time. The
Army supposedly accepted the risk because it believed the
Source: https://www.leonardodrs.com/what-we-do/products-and-
U.S. Air Force could maintain air superiority. After 2005,
services/m-shorad/.
SHORAD force structure was reduced to two battalions of
Active Component Avenger systems and Counter-Rocket,
M-SHORAD Increment 1
Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) batteries and seven National
M-SHORAD Increment 1 (Figure 1) was developed under
Guard Avenger battalions.
the Other Transaction Authority contracting process. M-
SHORAD uses the M-1126 Stryker combat vehicle as its
Renewed Emphasis on SHORAD
chassis. The weapons and radar packages are configured by
Since 2005, there has been a dramatic increase in air and
Leonardo DRS and then installed on the Stryker by General
missile platforms that could threaten U.S. ground forces.
Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), the vehicle’s original
The use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) has increased
manufacturer. Leonardo DRS reports the multipurpose
exponentially, and UASs have been used successfully in a
unmanned turret includes
variety of conflicts, including the current Russo-Ukrainian
conflict. Furthermore, fixed-wing aircraft, attack
• two AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles capable of
helicopters, and cruise missiles continue to evolve, posing a
hitting ground targets;
growing threat to U.S. ground forces. Given the increase in
• four FIM-92 Stinger missiles for aerial targets in a
threat and limited air defense assets available to Army
launcher (configured by Raytheon);
divisions, the Army decided to improve the air defense
posture of its maneuver forces.
• an XM914 30 mm automatic cannon;
M-SHORAD Requirement
• an M-240 7.62 mm machine gun;
In response to the growing aerial threat, the Army plans to
• a multi-mission radar capable of tracking both ground
field 144 M-SHORAD Increment 1 systems to four
and air targets.
battalions and could field to additional battalions in the
future. Each M-SHORAD battalion would consist of 40 M-
FY2024 M-SHORAD Increment 1 Budget Request
SHORAD systems, support vehicles and equipment, and
According to FY2024 Army budget documents, the Army
about 550 soldiers. In April 2021, the 5th Battalion, 4th Air
requested $400.697 million in procurement funding for 22
Defense Artillery Regiment received the first four of its M-
M-SHORAD Increment 1 systems.
SHORAD systems, becoming fully equipped by late 2022.
The Army plans to field the second M-SHORAD battalion
in fourth quarter of FY2023. In addition to the 144 systems
designated for operational units, the Army plans to procure
https://crsreports.congress.gov
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U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) System
Figure 2. M-SHORAD Increment 2
Considerations for Congress
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
following.
Lessons Learned from the Russo-Ukraine Conflict
The ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict has featured the use
of a variety of military and commercial UASs employed in
both kinetic and non-kinetic roles. In addition to both fixed
and rotary wing air threats, loitering munitions have also
been employed, reportedly with considerable effect.
Lessons learned related to the employment of the
aforementioned systems may inform current and future
development of all three M-SHORAD Increments.
Congress may consider what efforts have been undertaken
Source: https://www.army.mil/.
by the Army to incorporate lessons learned into M-
SHORAD design. Furthermore, as threat capabilities
M-SHORAD Increment 2
evolve, is the M-SHORAD’s design flexible enough to
M-SHORAD Increment 2 (Figure 2) is also referred to as
incorporate new lessons learned into future system
DE (Directed Energy) M-SHORAD and would incorporate
upgrades?
a 50 kilowatt (KW) laser as its primary armament to defend
Limitations of Laser Weapons
against a variety of air and artillery threats. Efforts to
Incorporating lasers as part of M-SHORAD Increment 2
develop the 50 KW laser began in 2019, and in 2021,
could be advantageous: there are logistical benefits to not
Raytheon was awarded a $123 million developmental
requiring traditional munitions, and the laser’s precision can
contract after a competitive shoot-off against Northrop
help to preclude collateral damage and casualties.
Grumman. The Army reports additional testing of the 50
However, there are also limitations associated with lasers,
KW laser has enjoyed success against a variety of drones,
including atmospheric and weather effects; effects of
but according to Army program officials, “challenges
smoke, dust, and other obscurants; and attenuation of the
remain” in terms of defending against rockets, artillery, and
laser beam over distance, which limits the laser’s effective
mortars. Army plans call for M-SHORAD Increment 2 to
range. Furthermore, threat aerial systems can be modified to
start a user assessment beginning in the fourth quarter of
mitigate laser attacks.
FY2023, running through the first quarter of FY2024. The
Given the limitations of Increment 2’s laser system,
Army also plans for an additional final contract competition
Congress may consider how the Army plans to compensate
prior to FY2025.
for these potential shortcomings. Is a mixed fleet of
Increment 2 and Increment 1 and 3 systems envisioned as
FY2024 M-SHORAD Increment 2 Budget Request
the solution, and, if so, what is the planned mix of M-
According to FY2024 Army budget documents, the Army
SHORAD variants to ensure maximum effectiveness under
requested $110.625 million in Research, Development,
all battlefield conditions?
Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) funding to develop a 50
Adequacy of Proposed M-SHORAD
KW laser and prototype vehicles.
Force Structure
M-SHORAD Increment 3
At present, there are 11 Active divisions and eight National
Guard divisions in the U.S. Army. Under the pre-2000
The Army reportedly plans for M-SHORAD Increment 3 to
SHORAD force structure construct, each division had its
incorporate the FIM-92 Stinger replacement missile—the
own dedicated SHORAD battalion. According to a
Next Generation Short Range Interceptor—into the
February 22, 2022 article from Inside Defense, “Army Plan
Increment 1 system. In addition, these plans call for the
Could Double M-SHORAD Buy,” the Army reportedly
Increment 1 30 mm automatic cannons to receive the XM
plans to field four initial M-SHORAD battalions with one
1223 Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst munition (MMPA),
in Europe, one battalion each for the 1st Cavalry and 1st
which features a multipurpose munition that can be
Armored Divisions, and one M-SHORAD battalion at Ft.
employed against air, ground, and personnel targets. In
Sill, OK. The article further notes the Army hopes to field
March 2023, the Army reportedly selected Lockheed
five M-SHORAD battalions to other divisions and theaters,
Martin and Raytheon Technologies to develop competing
but these five battalions are still under consideration by
prototypes of a Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor.
Army senior leaders.
The Army has indicated it is planning for a technology
demonstration in FY2024, an operational demonstration in
Given the growing aerial threat, Congress may consider
FY2026, and a production decision by FY2027.
whether the Army’s planned M-SHORAD force structure is
FY2024 M-SHORAD Increment 3 Budget Request
adequate for the Total Force (Active, Reserve, and National
Guard). If more M-SHORAD units are required, how many
According to FY2024 Army Budget Documents, the Army
M-SHORAD systems and soldiers will be needed to create
requested $160.426 million in RDT&E funding for
additional M-SHORAD units?
Increment 3 developmental activities, including integration
of the new 30 mm MMPA munition.
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF12397
https://crsreports.congress.gov
U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) System
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12397 · VERSION 4 · UPDATED