link to page 1 
Updated June 17, 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
types of units deemed more mission-critical at the time. The
M-SHORAD Increment 1
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 Army
Leonardo DRS and then installed on the Stryker by General
National 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
•
missile platforms that could threaten U.S. ground forces.
two AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles capable of
The use of unmanned aerial systems (UASs) has increased
hitting ground targets;
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
assets available to Army divisions, the Army decided to
• an XM914 30 mm automatic cannon;
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
In response to the growing aerial threat, the Army originally
and air targets.
planned to field 144 M-SHORAD Increment 1 systems to
four battalions and could field additional battalions in the
Figure 2. M-SHORAD Increment 2
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. Reportedly, as of June 2024, the Army
envisions building about 312 M-SHORAD systems but that
number could increase to as many as 361 “based on future
Army decisions,” but, at present, the Army only has
approval for 162 systems.
Source: https://www.army.mil/article/249511/
M-SHORAD Variants/Increments
the_army_rapid_capabilities_and_critical_technologies_offices_direct
ed_energy_maneuver_short_range_air_defense_de_m_shorad_rapid
Initially, there were three M-SHORAD variants, or
_prototyping_effort_is_on_track_to_deliver.
“Increments,” planned by the Army.
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 1 U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) System
M-SHORAD Increment 2
who won the Congressional Medal of Honor during the
M-SHORAD Increment 2 (Figure 2) is also referred to as
Vietnam War. In addition to the Army’s first two M-
DE (Directed Energy) M-SHORAD and would incorporate
SHORAD battalions - the 5th Battalion, 4th Defense
a 50 kilowatt (kW) laser as its primary armament to defend
Artillery in Germany and the 4th Battalion, 60th Air
against a variety of air and artillery threats. Efforts to
Defense Artillery at Ft. Sill, OK - Army officials
develop the 50 kW laser began in 2019, and in 2021,
reportedly noted that the Army is currently in the process of
Raytheon was awarded a $123 million developmental
fielding to the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery at
contract after a competitive shoot-off against Northrop
Ft. Cavazos, TX and plans to activate a fourth M-SHORAD
Grumman. The Army reports additional testing of the 50
battalion at Ft. Liberty, NC in the third quarter of FY2025.
kW laser has enjoyed success against a variety of drones,
but according to Army program officials, “challenges
FY2025 Budgetary Information
remain” in terms of defending against rockets, artillery, and
Table 1. FY2025 M-SHORAD Budget Request
mortars. Army plans called for M-SHORAD Increment 2 to
start a user assessment beginning in the fourth quarter of
Procurement
RDT&E
FY2023, running through the first quarter of FY2024. The
($M)
($M)
Quantity
Army also plans for an additional final contract competition
M-SHORAD
$69.091
—
—
prior to FY2025.
Increment 1
M-SHORAD
—
$88.480
—
Soldier Observations on DE M-SHORAD Deployed
Increment2
to the Middle East for Testing
M-SHORAD
—
$204.880
—
Reportedly, according to Army officials, in February 2024
Increment 3
the Army deployed four Stryker-mounted 50 kW laser M-
Sources: Procurement: Department of Defense Fiscal Year (FY)
SHORAD prototypes to the Middle East for soldiers to test
2025 Budget Estimates, March 2024, Army Justification Book, Volume 1 of
the system’s performance against aerial threats. Initial
1 Missile Procurement, Army. RDT&E: Department of Defense Fiscal
soldier feedback was characterized as “not overwhelmingly
Year (FY) 2025 Budget Estimates, March 2024, Army Justification Book
positive,” with officials suggesting “results from the lab
Volume 2b of 2 Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Army RDT&E
environment and test ranges are very different from the
− Volume II, Budget Activity 4B.
tactical environment.”
Notes: $ M = mil ion dol ars; RDT&E = Research Development Test
M-SHORAD Increment 3
& Evaluation; Quantity = procurement quantity.
The Army reportedly plans for M-SHORAD Increment 3 to
incorporate the FIM-92 Stinger replacement missile—the
Considerations for Congress
Next Generation Short Range Interceptor—into the
Oversight questions Congress could consider include the
Increment 1 system. In addition, these plans call for the
following.
Increment 1 30 mm automatic cannons to receive the XM
Lessons Learned from the Russo-Ukraine Conflict
1223 Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst munition (MMPA),
The ongoing Ukrainian conflict has featured the use of a
which features a multipurpose munition that can be
variety of military and commercial UASs employed in both
employed against air, ground, and personnel targets. In
kinetic and non-kinetic roles. In addition to both fixed and
March 2023, the Army reportedly selected Lockheed
rotary wing air threats, loitering munitions have also been
Martin and Raytheon Technologies to develop competing
employed, reportedly with considerable effect. Lessons
prototypes of a Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor.
learned related to the employment of the aforementioned
The Army has indicated it is planning for a technology
systems may inform current and future development of all
demonstration in FY2024, an operational demonstration in
four M-SHORAD Increments. Congress may consider
FY2026, and a production decision by FY2027.
what efforts have been undertaken by the Army to
Army Issues a Request for Information for M-
incorporate lessons learned into M-SHORAD design.
SHORAD Increment 4
2024 Army Force Structure Transformation
On May 8, 2024, the Army issued a request for information
Initiative and M-SHORAD
(RFI) for M-SHORAD Increment 4, stating that this
On February 27, 2024, the Army released a white paper,
capability is to focus on delivering “air defense capability
Army Force Structure Transformation, outlining plans to
to support dismounted maneuver.” M-SHORAD Increment
transform the force. Regarding M-SHORAD, the Army
4 is to include capabilities that can be transported on a C-
stated it would add four additional M-SHORAD battalions.
130 aircraft and that are air-droppable and sling load
Reportedly, Army officials noted on June 14, 2024 that the
capable. It is also to be capable of integration onto
four additional battalions would be activated in the Army
platforms such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV)
National Guard “assuming they are funded across the
and/or a robotic vehicle. The Army has requested RFI
Program Objective Memorandum (POM) between FY2026
responses from industry by July 16, 2024 and that industry
and FY2030.” Given the Army’s new transformation plans,
provide solutions that would deliver capabilities in the near
Congress might seek to clarify the Army’s plans for the
term (FY2027 to FY2028), mid term (FY2030 through
four new Army National Guard M-SHORAD battalions
FY2032), and the far term (beyond FY2035).
including the timeline for unit activations and where the
Army Names M-SHORAD Vehicle and Program
units will be stationed.
Update
On June 14, 2024 the Army reportedly renamed the M-
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
SHORAD the “SGT STOUT” in honor of Sergeant
IF12397
Mitchell William Stout, an Air Defense Artillery soldier
https://crsreports.congress.gov
U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) System
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12397 · VERSION 13 · UPDATED