Exclusive: US Army to equip more units with Sergeant Stout air defense vehicles to counter low-flying threats.

On June 23, 2025, the U.S. Army announced a $621 million contract awarded to General Dynamics for the delivery of additional Sergeant Stout short-range air defense systems, spare parts, and technical support. This new order will allow the Army to expand the number of these mobile anti-air systems across both active-duty and National Guard units in the coming years. Mounted on an 8x8 Stryker vehicle, the system is designed to protect frontline forces from drones, helicopters, and low-flying missiles, and has already been fielded with several battalions. The latest investment, scheduled for completion by September 29, 2028, underscores the Army’s intent to strengthen mobile air defense coverage against evolving aerial threats on the modern battlefield.
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The Sergeant Stout, previously referred to as M-SHORAD Increment 1, is an air defense system integrated on the Stryker A1 8x8 armored vehicle. (Picture source: US Army)

The Sergeant Stout was officially named in June 2024 after Sergeant Mitchell William Stout, the only U.S. Army air defense artillery soldier to receive the Medal of Honor. General Dynamics Land Systems serves as the prime contractor, integrating the Leonardo DRS mission equipment package onto the vehicle. The armament includes the Moog Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret equipped with a Northrop Grumman XM914 30mm chain gun and a 7.62mm M240 machine gun, a four-round Stinger missile launcher from Raytheon, and originally, two AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire launchers on a modified M299 launcher. Target acquisition and tracking are provided by radar and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems from RADA USA and Northrop Grumman. Due to concerns about the Hellfire missile’s exposure and maintenance in operational conditions, the Army removed it from the configuration and increased the vehicle’s Stinger missile capacity to eight.

The initial Army acquisition plan for Increment 1 included 162 systems, enough for four battalions, with 18 additional units for training, testing, and reserves. As of June 2025, three battalions have received the Sergeant Stout, and the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment based at Fort Cavazos, Texas, is currently fielding the system. A fourth battalion is expected to be activated at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. The Army has expressed intentions to equip up to eight battalions, including National Guard units. This expansion would bring the total number of systems to between 312 and 361, depending on budgetary allocations. The FY2025 budget includes a $69.091 million procurement request for Increment 1 and $204.880 million for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of Increment 3 systems, which are planned to feature upgraded missiles and ammunition.

Increment 3 adds several enhancements to the Sergeant Stout system, notably the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI), which is intended to replace the FIM-92 Stinger. Both Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have been selected to develop competing NGSRI prototypes. These missiles aim to improve range, accuracy, and resistance to countermeasures. The 30mm XM914 cannon will also be paired with the XM1223 Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst Munition, which supports programmable airburst, delay, or point-detonate settings to enhance lethality against drones, personnel, and light vehicles. A demonstration of Increment 3 capabilities is scheduled for 2026, with a production decision expected in 2027. These upgrades are designed to improve performance against agile, low-flying threats in contested environments.

As part of Increment 2, the US Army is also advancing a Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (DE M-SHORAD) variant. This version replaces kinetic interceptors with a 50-kilowatt high-energy laser developed by Raytheon, mounted on the same Stryker chassis. Four prototype vehicles were deployed to the Middle East in early 2024 for operational trials. While tests at White Sands Missile Range had shown effective engagement of Group 1 to 3 drones and rocket, artillery, and mortar threats, soldier feedback from field conditions revealed challenges in replicating those results. The Army aims to finalize the transition to a full configuration by 2026. The DE M-SHORAD addresses gaps in non-kinetic short-range threat engagement, especially as part of a layered defense system.

The Sergeant Stout’s origins trace back to an October 2020 award of $1.219 billion to General Dynamics for the production and integration of 144 M-SHORAD vehicles, plus 18 more for testing and training. The first 28 vehicles, valued at $230 million, were delivered to the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Germany in 2021. Designed to provide air defense for brigade combat teams, the system fills a critical gap left by the retirement of the Humvee-mounted Avenger. The Stryker-based configuration offers superior protection, mobility, and power availability. Its integration with sensor suites and missile systems allows Sergeant Stout to conduct air defense missions independently or as part of a broader layered defense network.

International interest in the Sergeant Stout has also grown. India has expressed its intention to procure Stryker M-SHORAD systems for deployment in high-altitude areas such as eastern Ladakh. The proposal was discussed during the 2023 U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi. In February 2024, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pandey visited the 1st Corps at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, where he received a briefing on the M-SHORAD system. Talks included potential co-production under India’s "Make in India" initiative. If realized, the agreement would involve an initial off-the-shelf delivery phase followed by domestic production tailored to Indian operational requirements. The move aligns with India’s broader efforts to modernize its air defense forces and reduce dependence on outdated systems through partnerships with international defense firms.