With the Stryker A1 Initial Maneuver Short-Range Air Defence, shortly IM-SHORAD, the USA is
returning to operating the self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. The change of the modern
combat environment forces the Western armies to be reorganized. This self-propelled anti-aircraft
gun, shortly SPAAG, has very different features from previous classical ones. Analysing it
could give us important clues to understand the future combat areas. As the Weapon Detective,
we are investigating the IM-SHORAD, a versatile SPAAG.
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The IM-SHORAD is different from the classical SPAAGs. It is designed to answer various types
of modern threats in combat areas. As we mentioned in our Korkut video, the NATO
armies have needed new SPAAGs for some time. But there is an important difference. While
Turkey chose a conventional design, the USA is offering an innovative one.
Let's take a brief look at the historical background of the process which paved the
way for the development of the IM-SHORAD. For a long time, the US Armed Forces had not
invested much in SPAAGs compering to the Eastern Block. The reason was simple.
The USA has never fought without air superiority since the Second World War.
Of course, the USA had developed some successful SPAAGs, like the M163, and some unsuccessful
ones, like the M247. But, ground-based air defence has never been
a priority. The last operational SPAAG of the US Army
was the M6 Linebacker. This M2 Bradley-based vehicle became operational in 1998, and after
just seven years, it was retired. Also, the US Marine Corps had the SPAAG version
of the LAV. Yet, because of the lack of air threats, this vehicle, called LAV-AD, was
retired too. But, a new threat has arisen. Especially in
the Middle East, many terrorist and guerilla groups began to use drones as a weapon.
Besides, these groups can now reach the rockets and mortars easily, and they can conduct attacks
from long distances. Also, the loitering munitions have proven
their effectiveness in the last few years. The man-portable and pedestal-mounted Stingers
of the US Army can not deal with threats. Besides, the Avenger does not provide ballistic
protection for the crew. So, in 2017, the US Army demanded the development of a self-propelled
new air defence system, which could cope with drones, mortar shells, rockets and loitering
munitions, as well as conventional air threats, such as aircraft and helicopters.
As a simple solution, BAE Systems offered an updated version of the M6 Linebacker in
the same year. But, now, the US Army wanted a wheeled vehicle.
So, in 2017, General Dynamics and Boeing offered the Stryker Mobile SHORAD Launcher, shortly
Stryker MSL. This SPAAG is a highly modified variant of the Stryker wheeled armoured vehicle.
It was eqıipped with a surface-launched variant of the Sidewinder air defence missiles, AGM-114L
Hellfire anti-tank missiles, and a 30mm M230 gun. Thanks to the variety of its weaponry,
the Stryker MSL could fight against many different types of threats.
The concept was OK. But, the vehicle did not satisfy the US Army.
The Stryker MSL was a highly modified design. The US Army wanted a simpler solution.
So, the US Army initiated the IM-SHORAD Programme in February 2018 and ordered a total of nine
prototype vehicles seven months later. General Dynamics equipped its Stryker vehicle
with Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform turret system, which is more compact
and modular. Also, this turret was providing increased protection for the crew. The Italian
Leonardo DRS company was responsible for the development of the mission equipment package
of the IM-SHORAD. In October 2019, the US Army handed over the first prototype. In the
same year, the IM-SHORAD was unveiled at the AUSA 2019.
The US Army plans to have up to 144 SPAAGs. Actually, the IM-SHORAD is not quite SPAAG.
The main armament of these vehicles is their guns.
However, the gun on the IM-SHORAD is considered a secondary armament. It relies on its missiles.
The IM-SHORAD provides air defence against low-flying aircraft and helicopters.
It is also effective against the Group 3 unmanned aerial vehicles, which fly at an altitude
of over 4,500 metres, in other words, 15,000 feet with a speed of 460 kilometres per hour.
Thanks to its 30mm gun, the IM-SHORAD can shot down miniature and mini unmanned aerial
vehicles at closer ranges with direct fire. The SPAAG also offers protection against artillery
and mortars shells, as well as rockets and cruise missiles.
As you know, the SPAAGs are also excellent ground fire support vehicles.
Thanks to its Hellfire missiles, the IM-SHORAD takes this capability to the next level. But,
it is not an armoured anti-tank vehicle. The specification of the IM-SHORAD is not
officially published yet. But, if we consider that the Hellfire missile weighs 50 kilograms,
there should be one or two loaders, besides the commander, gunner, and driver. To have
an idea, we can also mention the dimensions of a standard Stryker A1, which is 7 meters
long, 2.72 meters wide, and 2.64 meters high. The suspension of the vehicle can deal with
a weight of around 28 tons. So, IM-SHORAD could not be heavier. It is equipped with
a 450 horsepower Caterpillar C9 engine. We estimated that the road speed is about 100
kilometres per hour, and the range is over 500 kilometres. The vehicle has one 30mm XM914
Bushmaster chain gun and one 7.62mm M240 coaxial machine gun, as well as the AGM-114L Longbow
Hellfire and Stinger missiles. The double-V shaped high-hardness steel hull
of the IM-SHORAD provides high survivability against landmines and improvised explosive
devices. It also offers protection against 14.5mm rounds on the frontal arc and all-around
protection against 7.62mm ammunition. The vehicle can be fitted with bolt-on ceramic
armour packages, which provide all-around protection against 14.5mm armour-piercing
ammunition and splinters of 155mm artillery rounds.
The IM-SHORAD integrates with existing Army networks and is interoperable with the Sentinel
radar. The vehicle is fitted with Rada’s multi-mission
hemispheric radar. It has four panels on the hull. This active electronically scanned array
radar can detect, locate, and track both aerial and surface targets.
The IM-SHORAD also has L3Harris WESCAM’s MX-GCS electro-optical/infrared sighting system.
It provides the commander with 360-degree aerial surveillance as well as target identification
and detection capabilities. As we mentioned before, the main armament
of the IM-SHORAD is the missiles, not the guns. The passive infrared/ultraviolet homing
Stinger missile has a maximum effective range of 4,800 metres and a maximum effective altitude
of 3,800 metres. It has a 1-kilogram high explosive blast smooth-case fragmentation
warhead with a time-delay contact fuze. With a maximum speed of Mach 2.2, the Stinger
can be effective against an aerial target, which conducts 8 g manoeuvres.
The total time required for tracking and missile activation is about 6 seconds. When the firing
trigger is pulled, the booster of the missile is ignited in only 1.7 seconds. After the
Stinger leaves the tube, the booster is jettisoned. Then the Mk 27 solid-propellant rocket motor
is ignited, the missile reaches the correct acceleration rate in a second and the M934
time delayed impact fuse is activated. If it doesn't find the target within 20 seconds,
the Stinger destructs itself automatically. The AGM-114L Hellfire LongBow was originally
developed for use with AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopters. This fire and forget anti-tank
missile has a millimetre-wave radar seeker. Its maximum effective range is 8,000 metres.
The AGM-114L is an anti-tank missile, but thanks to its guidance system and 440 metres
per second speed, it is also highly effective against low-flying and low-speed aerial targets.
So, the main duty of the Hellfire LongBow on the IM-SHORAD is air defence.
But, the missile's original mission definition also makes the IM-SHORAD a superior anti-tank
vehicle. In today's complex combat environment, all kinds of threats can emerge suddenly.
And, the IM-SHORAD can easily deal with no only aerial vehicles but ground units, including
heavily armoured main battle tanks. But, still, the anti-tank mission is secondary.
The 30mm XM914 Bushmaster chain gun of the IM-SHORAD has dual purposes. The first is
air defence. To launch a missile against the miniature and mini unmanned aerial vehicles
is not economically feasible. Also, their effectiveness against such a small target
is low in close distance. But, by using programmable air bursting munition, the 30mm gun can effectively
deal with them. Also, it is a cheaper solution. This munition can intercept artillery and
mortar shells as well as rockets more efficiently. The second purpose of the XM914 is self-defence
against ground units. An enemy, which is hiding behind the defilade position or inside the
trenches, is not safe against the programmable air bursting munition. The 30mm armour-piercing
munition is highly effective against armoured vehicles.
In a complex combat environment, a versatile SPAAG is obviously more advantageous than
the conventional ones. But, nothing comes without a price. All innovations cause some
difficulties at first. The operational use of the anti-tank vehicles and the SPAAGs is
different. To use the IM-SHORAD efficiently, the US Army has to update its field manuals.
Of course, this is not a big burden, but it takes time.
In April 2021, the US Army deployed the first SPAAG to Germany. As the Weapon Detective,
we consider that this deployment is about testing the doctrine, as well as the vehicle.
These trials would pave the way for determining new field manuals.
The multi-role design of the IM-SHORAD increases the workload of its crew. So, the training
manuals have to be rewritten. The crew has to know when to use the Hellfire or Stinger
or when to switch guns precisely. The efficiency of these state-of-art weapons is directly
related to the training level of the crew. This also takes time.
The Stryker was developed to be the main unit of the US Army's rapid deployment force.
But, in time, it is realized that the vehicle cannot answer some initial criteria, such
as strategic mobility. Also, the survivability of the Stryker was
highly criticized during their service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, we know that the double-V hull variant of the vehicle has overcome the survivability
problems. Also, please remember that IM-SHORAD will
accompany the Stryker Brigades. So, it does not have to provide strategic mobility higher
than personnel carrier or infantry fighting vehicle variants. Besides, considering its
dimension and weight, the IM-SHORAD is the SPAAG, which has the highest strategical mobility
in the world. If we analyse its international market potential,
we can easily see that the turret of the IM-SHORAD has an overly advantageous position.
Its modern Western competitors are the Skyshield and Korkut. These two turrets, which are designed
for only one mission, are heavy and big. Also, they have the only cannons.
Unlike them, the turret of the IM-SHORAD is lightweight, compact, and multifunctional.
It can be easily fitted on many modern wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles.
So, the IM-SHORAD is one of the soundest and most promising military programmes of today.
It can answer the current complex combat environment, which hides many unexpected threats. The SPAAG
can protect the ground troops from unmanned aerial vehicles and loitering munitions. Until
the laser weapons emerge, the IM-SHORAD will fill an important gap.
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