US 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command unit completes first live-fire of new M-SHORAD system in Europe.

The 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, part of the U.S. 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command, completed the first live-fire of the maneuver short-range air defense weapon system at the tactical unit level and the first-ever live-fire of the system in Europe on Oct. 7, 2021. The week-long training took place at the Putlos Bundeswehr range on the Baltic Sea coast of Germany. Maj. Robert Fellingham reports.
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A Stinger missile launches from the new Maneuver Short Range Air Defense system on Oct. 7, 2021. (Picture source: U.S. Army/Maj. Robert Fellingham)

The purpose of the week’s training was to demonstrate the capabilities of the M-SHORAD Stryker. Members of the 3rd Platoon, Alpha Battery engaged ground targets with the 7.62mm machine gun and aerial drone targets with three Stinger missiles. Some of the Soldiers from the 3rd Platoon participated in the initial testing of M-SHORAD at White Sands, New Mexico, but this was the first time live firing M-SHORAD for many Alpha Battery Soldiers.

The next big exercise for the M-SHORAD will be Saber Strike 22 this winter. Exercise Saber Strike is an annual combined-joint exercise conducted at various locations throughout Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The combined training prepares allies and partners to respond more to regional crises and meet their own security needs by improving the security of borders and countering threats.

A Soldier from Alpha Battery, 5-4 ADAR, loads a Stinger missile into a pod on his Maneuver Short Range Air Defense system in preparation for the first live-fire of M-SHORAD at the tactical unit level and the first-ever live-fire of the system in Europe on Oct. 7, 2021 (Picture source: U.S. Army/Maj. Robert Fellingham)

Crews from Alpha Battery, 5-4 ADAR, pose with their Maneuver Short Range Air Defense systems after successfully completing the first live-fire of M-SHORAD at the tactical unit level and the first-ever live-fire of the system in Europe on Oct. 7, 2021 (Picture source: U.S. Army/Maj. Robert Fellingham)