U.S. Army Conducts Gunnery Exercise With Latest Air Defense System Sgt Stout.

The U.S. Army is conducting a live gunnery exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, featuring the latest-generation Sgt Stout air defense system. The training underscores efforts to integrate advanced short-range defenses against drones and low-altitude threats into active field operations.

U.S. Army officials confirmed that a live gunnery exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, is underway, featuring the latest-generation Sgt Stout short-range air defense system. The drills mark a significant step toward full operational integration as units across the force adapt to evolving threats from drones, rotary-wing aircraft, and low-flying munitions. It matters because Sgt. Stout enhances the Army’s ability to defend forward-deployed troops and critical infrastructure from modern aerial threats.
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A U.S. Army SGT Stout SHORAD air defense vehicle maneuvers into firing position during live-fire training with the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, on October 3, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

Developed under the Mobile Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment 3 program, the SGT Stout is a next-generation armored air defense vehicle based on the Stryker A1 platform. It was formally approved for limited fielding in late 2024, with deliveries beginning in early 2025 to select air defense artillery units, including the 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. The vehicle is now actively participating in live-fire evaluations intended to validate its weapons suite, sensor integration, and crew coordination in real-world training environments.

The SGT Stout distinguishes itself from earlier M-SHORAD (Mobile Short-Range Air Defense) iterations by incorporating a fully upgraded armament and sensor package tailored for mobile operations in highly contested airspace. Its primary weapon is the XM914 30mm chain gun, capable of engaging aerial and ground targets with programmable airburst munitions. Secondary armament includes dual Stinger missile launchers mounted on either side of the turret, giving it layered, multi-range engagement capability. The vehicle is also equipped with a suite of advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors, L3Harris’ vehicle-integrated fire control radar, and Leonardo DRS’ mission command system that enables autonomous target tracking, rapid engagement decisions, and seamless network integration with other air and ground platforms.

These gunnery exercises are part of the Army’s broader effort to restore short-range air defense capabilities to maneuver brigades, an area that had been largely deprioritized after the Cold War. The re-emergence of drone and missile threats in both state and non-state conflict zones forced a strategic shift. Observations from recent combat operations in Ukraine and the Middle East demonstrated how vulnerable mechanized units can be to loitering munitions, first-person-view drones, and saturation attacks from low-altitude threats.

The SGT Stout program was conceived to fill this gap with a mobile, survivable, and rapidly deployable SHORAD platform that can operate organically with brigade combat teams. Unlike legacy Avenger systems, which were limited in mobility and sensor capability, the Stout provides all-weather, 360-degree coverage while moving with armored formations. Its systems are designed to respond within seconds to fast-moving threats, with reduced reliance on external targeting data thanks to onboard fusion of radar and infrared input.

The gunnery drills at Fort Hood, involving both daytime and night operations, are designed to test the platform’s performance in dynamic and unpredictable engagement scenarios. The exercises simulate battlefield conditions, including multi-threat targeting, simultaneous drone swarm attacks, and rapid maneuver under simulated enemy fire. Crews are being trained not only on system operation but also on doctrine evolution, how to tactically employ the Stout alongside infantry and armor in distributed formations across a fluid battlespace.

While this is not the first time SGT Stout vehicles have fired their weapons in testing, it marks one of the most advanced and comprehensive training cycles involving operational units rather than developmental teams. Previous trials conducted in 2024 focused primarily on static range engagements and technical qualification. The current phase transitions the vehicle into integrated maneuver training within live unit formations, representing a major step toward full operational deployment.

The vehicle’s modular design also allows for future integration of non-kinetic systems. The Army has already signaled plans to equip future variants with directed energy weapons for drone defense, as well as electronic warfare modules to disrupt enemy communications and GPS signals. SGT Stout’s digital backbone is designed to support rapid upgrades without requiring a full vehicle redesign, thereby providing long-term adaptability across evolving threat landscapes.

With full-rate production scheduled to begin in fiscal year 2026, the Army is preparing to equip multiple Stryker Brigade Combat Teams and National Guard air defense formations with the Stout platform. Early export interest has also been signaled by U.S. allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific seeking mobile SHORAD solutions compatible with NATO command systems.

The SGT Stout is expected to serve as the foundation of the U.S. Army’s short-range air defense capability for the next two decades, bridging the gap until directed energy and more advanced counter-unmanned aerial systems become fully operational. Its combination of mobility, firepower, and sensor integration positions it as a key asset in defending forward-deployed forces in an increasingly contested global environment.