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Updated March 26, 2024
U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense
(M-SHORAD) System
Background
Figure 1. M-SHORAD Increment I
The Army is developing a new maneuver short-range air
defense system, or M-SHORAD to perform short-range air
defense, or SHORAD. The Army defines the SHORAD
mission as
[d]edicated air defense artillery (ADA) and non-
dedicated air defense capabilities that enable
movement
and
maneuver
by
destroying,
neutralizing, or deterring low altitude air threats to
defend critical fixed and semi-fixed assets and
maneuver forces.
Source: https://www.leonardodrs.com/what-we-do/products-and-
In the early 2000s, the Army divested ADA units from
services/m-shorad/.
Army force structure to free up personnel to create other
M-SHORAD Increment 1
types of units deemed more mission-critical at the time. The
Army supposedly accepted the risk because it believed the
M-SHORAD Increment 1 (Figure 1) was developed under
U.S. Air Force could maintain air superiority. After 2005,
the Other Transaction Authority contracting process. M-
SHORAD force structure was reduced to two battalions of
SHORAD uses the M-1126 Stryker combat vehicle as its
Active Component Avenger systems and Counter-Rocket,
chassis. The weapons and radar packages are configured by
Artillery and Mortar (C-RAM) batteries and seven National
Leonardo DRS and then installed on the Stryker by General
Guard Avenger battalions.
Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), the vehicle’s original
manufacturer. Leonardo DRS reports the multipurpose
Renewed Emphasis on SHORAD
unmanned turret includes
Since 2005, there has been a dramatic increase in air and
• two AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles capable of
missile platforms that could threaten U.S. ground forces.
hitting ground targets;
The use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) has increased
exponentially, and UASs have been used successfully in a
• four FIM-92 Stinger missiles for aerial targets in a
variety of conflicts, including the current Ukrainian
launcher (configured by Raytheon);
conflict. Given the increase in threat and limited air defense
• an XM914 30 mm automatic cannon;
assets available to Army divisions, the Army decided to
improve the air defense posture of its maneuver forces.
• an M-240 7.62 mm machine gun; and
M-SHORAD Requirement
• a multi-mission radar capable of tracking both ground
and air targets.
In response to the growing aerial threat, the Army originally
planned to field 144 M-SHORAD Increment 1 systems to
Figure 2. M-SHORAD Increment 2
four battalions and could field additional battalions in the
future. Each M-SHORAD battalion would consist of 40 M-
SHORAD systems, support vehicles and equipment, and
about 550 soldiers. In April 2021, the 5th Battalion, 4th Air
Defense Artillery Regiment received the first four of its M-
SHORAD systems, becoming fully equipped by late 2022.
In addition to the 144 systems designated for operational
units, the Army planned to procure 18 additional systems
for training, operational spares, and testing, for a total of
162 systems.
M-SHORAD Variants/Increments
While M-SHORAD is primarily intended to defend
maneuver forces against air threats, it also has the capability
Source: https://www.army.mil/article/249511/
to engage a range of ground targets. There are three M-
the_army_rapid_capabilities_and_critical_technologies_offices_direct
ed_energy_maneuver_short_range_air_defense_de_m_shorad_rapid
SHORAD variants, or “Increments,” planned by the Army.
_prototyping_effort_is_on_track_to_deliver.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 1 U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) System
M-SHORAD Increment 2
Notes: $ M = mil ion dol ars; RDT&E = Research Development
M-SHORAD Increment 2 (Figure 2) is also referred to as
Test & Evaluation; Quantity = procurement quantity.
DE (Directed Energy) M-SHORAD and would incorporate
a 50 kilowatt (kW) laser as its primary armament to defend
According to the Army, the FY 2025 M-SHORAD budget
against a variety of air and artillery threats. Efforts to
request
develop the 50 kW laser began in 2019, and in 2021,
[s]upports
Product
Development,
Initial
Raytheon was awarded a $123 million developmental
contract after a competitive shoot-off against Northrop
Operational Test (IOT), Product Improvement
Grumman. The Army reports additional testing of the 50
Tasks, and includes support for Program
kW laser has enjoyed success against a variety of drones,
Management, Test and Evaluation, and Engineering
but according to Army program officials, “challenges
Technical Support.
remain” in terms of defending against rockets, artillery, and
Considerations for Congress
mortars. Army plans called for M-SHORAD Increment 2 to
start a user assessment beginning in the fourth quarter of
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
FY2023, running through the first quarter of FY2024. The
following.
Army also plans for an additional final contract competition
prior to FY2025.
Lessons Learned from the Russo-Ukraine Conflict
The ongoing Ukrainian conflict has featured the use of a
M-SHORAD Increment 3
variety of military and commercial UASs employed in both
The Army reportedly plans for M-SHORAD Increment 3 to
kinetic and non-kinetic roles. In addition to both fixed and
incorporate the FIM-92 Stinger replacement missile—the
rotary wing air threats, loitering munitions have also been
Next Generation Short Range Interceptor—into the
employed, reportedly with considerable effect. Lessons
Increment 1 system. In addition, these plans call for the
learned related to the employment of the aforementioned
Increment 1 30 mm automatic cannons to receive the XM
systems may inform current and future development of all
1223 Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst munition (MMPA),
three M-SHORAD Increments. Congress may consider
which features a multipurpose munition that can be
what efforts have been undertaken by the Army to
employed against air, ground, and personnel targets. In
incorporate lessons learned into M-SHORAD design.
March 2023, the Army reportedly selected Lockheed
Martin and Raytheon Technologies to develop competing
2024 Army Force Structure Transformation
prototypes of a Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor.
Initiative and M-SHORAD
The Army has indicated it is planning for a technology
On February 27, 2024, the Army released a white paper,
demonstration in FY2024, an operational demonstration in
Army Force Structure Transformation, outlining plans to
FY2026, and a production decision by FY2027.
transform the force. Regarding M-SHORAD, the Army
stated it would add “four additional M-SHORAD
FY 2025 Budgetary Information
battalions, which counter low altitude aerial threats,
including UAS, rotary wing aircraft, and fixed wing
Table 1. FY2025 M-SHORAD Budget Request
aircraft.” According to a 2022 report, the Army originally
Procurement
RDT&E
planned to field four M-SHORAD battalions to selected
($M)
($M)
Quantity
units and possibly up to an additional five battalions. In
view of the Army’s white paper, it now appears that the
M-SHORAD
$69.091
—
—
Army intends to field a total of eight M-SHORAD
Increment 1
battalions. Given the Army’s new transformation plans,
M-SHORAD
—
$88.480
—
Congress might seek to clarify the Army’s plans for M-
Increment2
SHORAD, including how many battalions will be created;
whether any battalions will be created in the Army National
M-SHORAD
—
$204.880
—
Guard; the timeline for unit activation; requirements for
Increment 3
additional M-SHORAD systems; and where M-SHORAD
Sources: Procurement: Department of Defense Fiscal Year (FY)
units will be stationed.
2025 Budget Estimates, March 2024, Army Justification Book, Volume 1 of
1 Missile Procurement, Army. RDT&E: Department of Defense Fiscal
Year (FY) 2025 Budget Estimates, March 2024, Army Justification Book
Volume 2b of 2 Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army RDT&E
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
− Volume II, Budget Activity 4B.
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 7 · UPDATED