The US Army's newest air defense platform Sergeant STOUT (M-SHORAD), carried out its first live fire in the Arctic with NATO allies, while another air defense unit carried out its first live fire in Africa Avenger Air Defense System These deployments are part of the US strategy to strengthen its global air defense capabilities and mobility with its allies.
Sergeant STOUT's First Live Fire in the Arctic: Exercise Formidable Shield 2025
Formerly known as Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense, or M-SHORAD Sergeant STOUT The vehicle consists of a Stryker vehicle with mounted Stinger missiles, onboard radar and a 30mm cannon.
According to a statement from the US Army, soldiers from the 4th Battalion of the 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, It participated in Exercise Formidable Shield 2025 with NATO allies in the Arctic Circle near Andoya, Norway. Air defense units engaged in live-fire activities from Sergeant STOUT and from the vehicle, engaging target unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) simulating low-altitude threats.
The Formidable Shield exercise took place between May 6-9, involved 11 warships, 16 aircraft and eight ground units from 27 NATO and partner nations. Originally started as a naval missile defense exercise a decade ago, this integrated air and missile defense exercise was supplemented with ground-based air defense assets in response to real-world combat lessons learned from the Russo-Ukrainian War.
The Norwegian SHORAD crews on Andoya Island provided the final layer of protection for the force during the exercise, eliminating any threats that might have breached the sea defenses in the Norwegian Sea. The STOUT is designed to intercept drones, helicopters and cruise missiles that overlap with ship-based and high-altitude interceptors used by NATO forces. “Our radar here can only see so far, but we transmit what we see to the network and the ships that can’t see here get an early warning. Likewise, they can see a track further away than we do, so we have a much earlier warning that something is coming, and that gives us an advantage,” Maj. Ben Bowman, battalion operations officer, said in a press release. The Norwegian forces operated the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System and the Norwegian Mobile Air Defense System.
Avenger Air Defense System Deployed for the First Time in Africa: African Lion 2025 Exercise
Meanwhile, about 5.500 miles away In Ben Ghilouf, TunisiaSoldiers from the 10st Battalion of the 52th Air Defense Regiment, 57nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, affiliated with the 1th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, With the first deployment of the Avenger Air Defense System in Africa reached another milestone in the field of air defense.
The Avenger consists of eight Stinger missiles mounted on a Humvee for mobile air defense. The system is being used in this year’s annual exercise on the continent, which involves dozens of countries. African Lion exercise This year's exercise will take place in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia through Friday.
“By integrating our systems with those of our allies, we ensure that any potential adversary faces a unified, technologically advanced defense,” Col. Haileyesus Bairu, commander of the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, said in a press release. “This makes it much more difficult for hostile forces to threaten the United States or our partners.” U.S. Army Southern Europe Task Force Africa conducted the exercise on behalf of U.S. Africa Command.
