Hello Everyone!
Today, I am going to be talking about (and asking for some help with finding more) information regarding the United States most recent SPAAG development, the M-SHORAD.
- Yes, Add the M-SHORAD!
- No, I don’t like SPAAG. Thanks!
The Manuever SHOrt Range Air Defense system, or the M-SHORAD for short, is a recently developed American SPAAG system. Originally developed in 2016 for use in the European Theater of Operations, it is a SPAAG system designed, for, well, Short Range Air Defense. The Weapons System are mounted on the Chassis of the M1126 Stryker combat vehicle chassis, also seen in game with the M1128 Mobile Gun System.
The vehicle has several iterations, or “Increments”. Their are currently THREE different Increments of the M-SHORAD.
Increment One mounts, in an unmanned turret:
2x AGM-114L Long Bow Hellfire Missiles with Fire and Forget Capabilities that have the ability to hit Ground Targets
4x FIM-92 Stingers
1x XM914 30mm Automatic Cannon
1x M240 Machine Gun AND
1x Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR), supposedly capable of targeting both Ground and Air targets for the vehicles weapons. The MHR is an S-Band Pulse Doppler Radar developed by DRS RADA technologies.
It also has IFF, and the MX-GCS EO/IR sight. This sight has Hunter Killer features as well as Electro Optical and InfraRed vision capabilities.
The Increment Two, also known as the DE (Direct Energy) mounts (and yes this is real)
1x 50kW Laser developed by Raytheon.
I’m not kidding. Its real. Testing started in late 2023. Apparently the Laser is very good for stopping drones. I, however, am NOT seeking for this to be added in game (I find it ridiculous and useless at the same time for the games purpose).
Finally, the Increment Three.
The Increment Three is merely an upgrade to the Increment one. The big changes are:
The 4x FIM-92 Stingers are replaced with the NGSRI Missile currently in development (Much like the Challenger Three is still in development). The NGSRIs fit in the same housing as the Stinger, however are a much more capable missile.
XM 1223 MMPA, or Multi Mode Proximity Airburst munition.
This vehicle is currently in the midst of being worked on, with a planned Technology Demonstrator supposed to be rolling out this year. This would be the version of the vehicle I would like in game- however, I would also settle for the Increment 1.
That said, I do not have enough sources to viably suggest this yet (assuming it hasn’t already been suggested). I would like to know everyone’s thoughts on this vehicle and what needs to be addressed before adding it/suggesting it (again, assuming it hasn’t already been)
I have sources, I just don’t know whether or not I should link them. If I should, please let me know, and I will attach them to the document below. None of them are Restricted or Classified. All of it is publicly available information through Congressional Research Service Reports, Company websites, and News Articles from the US Military.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you all think