U.S. Army plans to send newest Air Defense systems to Europe to counter Russia

The U.S. Army plans to send newest Air Defense systems to Europe to counter Russia

The new Air Defense systems is Stryker MSL Maneuver SHORAD Launcher

It is a short-range Air Defense systems armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles

The service plans to build its first Stryker SHORAD  prototype probably by 2019 as a step toward producing 144 initial systems.

Furthermore, The Stryker MSL is one of most advanced short-range air defense system designed to meet the U.S. Army’s because of Emerging operational need to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Rotary Wing (RW) and Cruise Missile (CM) threats.

The short-range air defense system mounted on a Stryker combat vehicle is jointly developed by Boeing and General Dynamics Land Systems.

Most noteworthy the Stryker is a family of eight-wheel-drive combat vehicles that can travel at speeds up to 62 mph on highways, with a range of 312 miles

In addition, It operates with the latest C4ISR equipment as well as detectors for nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

Stryker vehicle configurations include the nuclear, chemical and biological reconnaissance vehicle; anti-tank guided missile and medical evacuation vehicles; and carriers for mortars, engineer squads, infantry squads, command groups, and fire support teams.

The U.S. Army in Europe is in urgent need of air defense system of this class because they want to counter Russia in Europe and provide more support to operating Brigade Combat Teams.

Seems like, the fighting experience in Syria and Iraq has shown increased close-in air threats from the possible use of cruise missiles and small unmanned aerial vehicles.

As a result this  program, which plans to deploy first 30mm Stryker vehicles to Europe probably by 2020

In conclusion It is part of an Army effort called short-range-air-defense – Initial Maneuver (SHORAD).