WASHINGTON, D.C. — General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) will display a version of the Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment 4 system mounted on a Ford Ranger pickup truck at the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) annual meeting and exposition in Washington, D.C., from October 12 to 14, 2026.
The display represents a lighter and more modular approach than the Stryker-based M-SHORAD Increment 1, known as SGT Stout. General Dynamics has not disclosed the specific weapons or sensors fitted to the Ranger and has not stated whether the displayed configuration has been formally submitted for the Army's Increment 4 program.
Modular SLED System
The system is based on the Self-Loading Equipment Dock (SLED), a self-contained pallet designed to be loaded onto different vehicles. GDLS describes SLED as a platform-agnostic system available in light, medium and heavy configurations.
The pallet carries weapons and sensors on remote weapon stations, allowing crews to operate them from inside the vehicle or remotely. A March 2026 Army request for information requires the SLED to remain operational after being removed from its host vehicle, while the host vehicle must immediately return to normal use after the pallet is unloaded.
M-SHORAD Increment 4 is intended to provide defensive fires for the Army's Mobile Brigade Combat Team and counter Group 1-3 unmanned aircraft systems, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters supporting enemy ground forces. It is designed for both vehicle-mounted and dismounted operations and to use a modular open systems architecture integrating multiple kinetic and non-kinetic effectors and sensors.
The system can also operate independently or connect with Army command-and-control networks.
Army's Increment 4 Requirements
In May 2024, the Army issued a request for information for an air-defense capability for dismounted troops. Requirements included transportation by C-130 aircraft, parachute-drop capability and the ability to be sling-loaded under a helicopter.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George approved the Increment 4 capabilities development document in October 2025.
At AUSA 2025, Col. Marc Pelini, then the Army's air and missile defense requirements officer, said the sled concept was intended to move away from a fully integrated air-defense vehicle. The pallet could be placed on an Infantry Squad Vehicle, Humvee, Joint Light Tactical Vehicle or civilian-style pickup truck.
Funding and Development
The Army plans to achieve initial operational capability by late fiscal year 2029. According to the Congressional Research Service, the service requested $108.1 million in fiscal year 2027 research, development, test and evaluation funding for Increment 4 supporting Joint Forcible Entry and Mobile Brigade Combat Team forces. Total M-SHORAD research and development funding requested for FY2027 is $460.9 million.
GDLS is the prime contractor and integrator for M-SHORAD Increment 1, which uses a Stryker chassis with Stinger missiles, Hellfire missiles and a 30 mm cannon.
Increment 2, which was planned to use a laser-equipped Stryker, was canceled. Increment 3 is planned as an upgrade to the Stryker-based system, adding the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor and XM1223 30 mm cannon.
The Ford Ranger-based M-SHORAD Increment 4 concept will be displayed at GDLS booth 703 at AUSA 2026, alongside other systems including the Wolf XM30 infantry fighting vehicle model and an upgraded PERCH loitering munition kit.
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