U.S. Army Requirement Prompts General Dynamics to Develop New Short-Range Air Defense System

General Dynamics Land Systems presented a proposed mobile short-range air-defense configuration in response to a US Army requirement for a lighter air-defense platform. The demonstrator uses a Ford Ranger vehicle chassis with a modular weapons deck and has been shown with a 7.62-millimeter weapon, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets and an Echodyne radar sensor. The company is exploring configurations intended to provide counter-drone and short-range protection while remaining more transportable than heavier armored air-defense vehicles. The system is an industry offering associated with the Army's M-SHORAD Increment 4 interest, not a confirmed production selection or operational fielding decision.