AUSA 2019: General Dynamics unveils Stryker A1 IM-SHORAD air defense armored vehicle.

General Dynamics Land Systems unveils the Stryker A1 IM-SHORAD (Initial Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense) vehicle at AUSA 2019, the Association of United States Army Defense Exhibition that was held in Washington D.C.

General Dynamics Land Systems Stryker A1 IM-SHORAD at AUSA 2019, Association of United States Army Defense Exhibition in Washington D.C., October 2019. (Picture source Army Recognition)

On 28 February 2018, the Army announced that Stryker vehicles would be modified with sensors and weapons to fulfill an interim Maneuver-Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) requirement. This is in response to a capability gap identified in Europe against Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The goal of the IM-SHORAD (Initial Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense) program is to provide tactical ground units with improved air defense capabilities against emerging threats. In order to provide a next-generation protection capability to forward-deployed units, the U.S. Army’s IM-SHORAD solution will feature an integrated suite of mission systems including radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sighting system, electronic warfare package as well as non-lethal and lethal effects including Hellfire rockets; Stinger missiles; and a 30 mm M230LF cannon.

The U.S. Army has decided to use the Stryker 8x8 wheeled armored to develop a new short-range air defense system fitted with direct-fire weapons and missiles. The Stryker platform was chosen because it has better protection and in regards to size, weight and power considerations, especially for the possibility of integrating a directed energy weapon in the future.

The Stryker A1 IM-SHORAD unveiled by the American Company General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is fitted with a turret armed with Longbow Hellfire and Stinger missiles launchers. The AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire is the latest Hellfire derivate featuring a millimeter-wave guidance system and fire-and-forget capability. The Longbow Hellfire was designed to be launched from the radar-equipped AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter increasing its survivability thanks to its fire-and-forget capability. The Stinger is a surface-to-air missile, it has an outward targeting range of up to 4,800 m (15,700 feet) and can engage low altitude enemy threats at up to 3,800 m (12,500 feet).

Second armament of the turret includes one XM914 30 mm automatic cannon and one 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. With all these weapons the vehicle is able to destroy unmanned aerial systems as well as fixed-wing and rotary-wing threats.

Close view of Stryker A1 IM-SHORAD turret armed with Longbow Hellfire and Stinger missiles, 30mm cannon and 7.62 machine gun.