Short-Range Air Defense Systems (SHORADS)

Latest in Short-Range Air Defense Systems (SHORADS)

The U.S. Army is pursuing a Stinger missile replacement for short-range air defense that can go faster, survive jamming and more easily hit tougher targets like drones.
Land

Army’s Stinger Surface-To-Air Missile Replacement Makes Progress

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 18, 2025

A Ukrainian reconnaissance brigade has released footage purportedly showing the destruction of Russia’s S-350 Vityaz air defense system in the Donetsk region.
Land

Ukraine Appears To Have Destroyed Its First Russian S-350 Air Defense System

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 17, 2025

President Donald Trump has laid out a vision for a new Iron Dome air and missile defense system to shield the U.S. homeland, which directly hearkens back to the Reagan-era Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).
News & Features

Weaponizing Space Key To Trump’s Iron Dome Missile Defense Shield Vision

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 28, 2025

A North Korean-made mobile surface-to-air missile system has appeared for the first time in the Ukraine conflict. The air defense system, the name of which remains unknown, is the latest example of Pyongyang’s military assistance for Moscow’s war. Ironically, however, its presence in the fighting was disclosed by a video shared by Russian military bloggers, showing it being attacked by a Russian drone, in an apparent ‘blue on blue’ incident.
Land

North Korean Air Defense System Revealed In Ukraine By Russian Friendly Fire Strike

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 13, 2025

The U.S. Army says it is planning to award a sole-source contract to BAE Systems to produce a prototype self-propelled 155mm howitzer for use as a novel air defense system.
Land

Railgun Ammo-Firing 155mm Air Defense Cannon Set To Be Awarded To BAE Systems

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 24, 2024

We have gotten our best look at a Ukrainian 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko) mobile short-range air defense system (SHORADS) armed with the Soviet-era R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infrared-guided air-to-air missile. While other such systems have typically integrated Western missile armament on existing Ukrainian ground-based air defense systems — known as ‘FrankenSAMs’ — this one is notable for combining a Soviet-era SHORADS vehicle with Soviet-era missiles.
Land

Ukraine’s SA-8 Gecko ‘FrankenSAM’ Adapted To Fire Air-To-Air Missiles Seen In New Detail

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 12, 2024

Massive Chinese Anti-Drone High-Power Microwave Weapon Emerges
Land

Massive Chinese Anti-Drone High-Power Microwave Weapon Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2024

A Russian-made, S-300 missile system drives in front of the officials' stand during a military parade marking the annual Iranian National Army Day in Tehran, on April 18, 2019. - Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called on Middle East states on April 18 to "drive back Zionism", in an Army Day tirade against the Islamic republic's archfoe Israel. Speaking flanked by top general as troops paraded in a show of might, Rouhani also sought to reassure the region that the weaponry on display was for defensive purposes and not a threat.
News & Features

Israeli Strikes Knocked Out All Of Iran’s S-300 Air Defense Systems: Officials

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 28, 2024

The U.S. Army is no longer pursuing a new interceptor for its Patriot surface-to-air missile systems. The disclosure as the service has also said it wants to reduce reliance on the highly in demand and heavily strained Patriot force and look more at tailored air defense force packages leveraging its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) network.
Land

New Patriot Missile Interceptor Axed By Army

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Oct 15, 2024

Russia has unveiled a new gunless version of its Pantsir air defense system it says is ideally suited to protecting critical infrastructure from drones using small short-range interceptors.
Land

Pantsir Packed With Drone-Intercepting Mini Missiles Unveiled By Russia

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 13, 2024

Trump is proposing an Iron Dome air defense system for the US.
Land

Trump’s Nebulous “Iron Dome” Pledge Actually Reflects Very Real Homeland Threats

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 22, 2024

AIM-9 Shorads system which could be similar to FrankenSAM.
Around The Globe

Ukraine’s FrankenSAM Air Defense Concept Could Be Used To Protect USAF Bases

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 10, 2024

NOMADS will provide short-range air defenses including in contested areas.
Land

Norway’s NOMADS Armored Short Range Air Defense System Unveiled

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 19, 2024

The German Rheinmetall company is assessing whether Cold War-era Leopard 1 tanks can have their turrets swapped out to be fitted with the Skyranger 35 short-range air defense system. The initiative is driven by Ukraine’s insatiable demand for ground-based air defenses, but it’s indicative of a broader resurgence in interest in short-range air defense systems (SHORADS), especially as the drone threat continue to proliferate around the globe.
Armies

Old Leopard Tanks Can Be Reborn As Air Defense Systems With Skyranger 35 Turret

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 17, 2024

An Iron dome launcher being targeted by an Almas missile.
News & Features

Whether Hezbollah Hit An Iron Dome Launcher Or Not, Its Almas Missiles Are A Problem For Israel

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 7, 2024

Tamir air-o-air variant
Air

The Case For Arming Drone-Hunting Fighters With Iron Dome’s Tamir Missile

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 30, 2024