Sergeant Stout Rolls Deeper into U.S. Army as Battle-Ready Air Defense Solution Grows

The U.S. Army is moving full speed ahead with the expansion of its next-generation short-range air defense system, known as Sergeant Stout, across more units to counter modern low-flying threats such as drones, helicopters, and cruise missiles. The system, which rides on a Stryker A1 8x8 armored vehicle, blends mobility, firepower, and cutting-edge sensors, and is becoming the Army’s primary solution for protecting frontline combat units from aerial attacks.

Originally called M-SHORAD Increment 1, the system was renamed Sergeant Stout in June 2024 to honor Sergeant Mitchell William Stout, the only air defense artillery soldier in U.S. Army history to receive the Medal of Honor.

The vehicle features a powerful combination of weapons: a 30mm XM914 chain gun, a 7.62mm M240 machine gun, and a Moog RIwP turret that carries up to eight Stinger missiles—increased from the original four after Hellfire missiles were dropped from the design due to field maintenance concerns. Radar and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems from RADA USA and Northrop Grumman provide robust target detection and tracking capabilities.

So far, the Army has equipped three battalions with the system, with a fourth battalion to be activated at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, later in fiscal year 2025. The 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment at Fort Cavazos, Texas, is currently fielding the system. Eventually, the Army wants up to eight battalions, including National Guard units, to receive the Sergeant Stout, bringing total numbers to between 312 and 361 vehicles depending on future budgets.

Sergeant Stout fills a gap left by the now-retired Humvee-based Avenger systems. Its integration into the Stryker platform gives it better mobility, survivability, and power capacity to operate advanced electronics and weapons. The platform can operate as a standalone defense system or be integrated into a larger layered air defense network, making it highly adaptable for modern battlefield environments.

Looking ahead, the Army is investing heavily in future versions of the Sergeant Stout. The Increment 3 upgrade is set to bring new missiles—such as the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI), being developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin—and advanced programmable airburst ammunition for the 30mm cannon. These enhancements will give the system greater lethality and effectiveness against fast, maneuverable drones and other airborne threats. Demonstrations of Increment 3 are scheduled for 2026, with production expected to begin in 2027.

Parallel to this, a laser-armed version of the vehicle called DE M-SHORAD (Directed Energy Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense) is being developed. This variant uses a 50-kilowatt high-energy laser, also mounted on a Stryker, to destroy enemy drones and rockets without firing traditional munitions. Four prototype DE M-SHORAD vehicles were sent to the Middle East in 2024 for trials, though the Army is still refining its performance based on soldier feedback from real-world conditions.

Beyond the U.S., the Sergeant Stout has also drawn international interest. India is in talks to procure the system, particularly for high-altitude operations in areas like eastern Ladakh. Discussions are ongoing regarding potential co-production under India's Make in India initiative, signaling a new level of defense cooperation between the two countries.

The Sergeant Stout program began with a $1.219 billion contract awarded in 2020 to General Dynamics Land Systems, the prime contractor. The first deliveries began in 2021 to units stationed in Germany. Now, with additional funding in the FY2025 budget—including $69 million for procurement and over $200 million for R&D—the Army is firmly backing this advanced system as a central piece of its modern air defense strategy.

With both kinetic and laser-based versions under development, and new munitions on the horizon, the Sergeant Stout is rapidly evolving into one of the most capable short-range air defense solutions available today—designed not only to protect troops but to dominate the skies in a future full of drone and missile threats.