Latest news with #AvengerAirDefenseSystem
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Army air defense systems deploy to the Arctic, Africa for first time
The Army's newest air defense platform recently conducted its first live fire in the Arctic alongside NATO allies while another air defense unit deployed the Avenger Air Defense System in Africa for the first time. The Sgt. STOUT vehicle, formerly known as Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense, or M-SHORAD, consists of a Stryker vehicle with mounted Stinger missiles, onboard radar and a 30mm cannon. Soldiers with the 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, joined NATO allies for Exercise Formidable Shield 2025 in the Arctic Circle near Andoya, Norway, according to an Army release. Air defenders engaged target drones simulating low-altitude threats over several late-night live-fire events, both from the Sgt. STOUT and dismounted from the vehicle. The skies are no longer safe, these soldiers are preparing to defend them Formidable Shield included 16 warships, 27 aircraft and eight ground units from 11 NATO and partner nations between May 6-9. Primarily an integrated air and missile defense exercise that began a decade ago as a naval missile defense exercise, the event has added ground-based air defense assets in response to real-world combat lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War. Norwegian SHORAD crews on Andoya Island served as the final protective layer for forces during the exercise, destroying any threats that may have made it past naval defenses in the Norwegian Sea. The Sgt. STOUT is designed to intercept drones, helicopters and cruise missiles, which overlaps with ship-based and high-altitude interceptors NATO forces operate. 'Our radar here can only see so far, but we push what we see to the network, and the ships that maybe can't see over here get early warning,' said Maj. Ben Bowman, battalion operations officer, in the release. 'Likewise, they can see a track further out than we can, so we have a heads-up that something's coming a lot earlier and that just gives us the edge.' Norwegian forces operated the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System and the Norwegian Mobile Air Defense System. U.S. Marines from Marine Air Control Group 28 sent teams with shoulder-launched Stinger missiles and operated a tactical air operations center, according to the release. 'When they see a different ship each night with different drones, different air forces or [ground-based air defense] defending or attacking, it makes it complex for them,' said Cmdr. Fridtjof Joys of the Royal Norwegian Navy. Meanwhile, some 3,500 miles away in Ben Ghilouf, Tunisia, soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, achieved another air defense milestone with the first-ever deployment of the Avenger Air Defense System in Africa. The Avenger includes eight Stinger missiles mounted on a Humvee for mobile air defense. The system was deployed as part of this year's African Lion exercise, an annual exercise on the continent featuring dozens of nations. This year's exercise takes place through Friday across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia. 'By integrating our systems with those of our allies, we ensure that any potential adversary faces a unified, technologically advanced defense,' said Col. Haileyesus Bairu, the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade commander, in the release. 'This makes it far more difficult for hostile forces to threaten the United States or our partners.' U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, led the exercise on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command. 'We leave this exercise more prepared, more confident, and more capable than when we arrived,' said Command Sgt. Maj Charles Robinson, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade senior enlisted adviser, in the release. 'That's the true measure of success for us, and it's what keeps our homeland safe.'
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
US, Philippine troops shoot down drones in joint defence drills
A U.S. soldier checks an Avenger Air Defense System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez U.S. soldiers talk beside a MADIS or Marine Air Defense Integrated System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez U.S. soldiers talk beside an Avenger Air Defense System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez A U.S. soldier checks an Avenger Air Defense System during the annual joint military exercises between U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Philippine and U.S. soldiers walk past a MADIS or Marine Air Defense Integrated System during the annual joint military exercises between the U.S. and Philippine troops called \"Balikatan\" or shoulder-to-shoulder, at a naval base in San Antonio, Zambales province, Philippines, April 27, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez SAN ANTONIO, Philippines - U.S. and Philippine soldiers shot down drones with Stinger missiles during live-fire drills on Sunday, part of annual joint military exercises taking place at a time of simmering tensions with Beijing over the South China Sea. More than 14,000 Filipino and U.S. troops are participating in this year's Balikatan, or "shoulder-to-shoulder", exercises, which run until May 9, focusing on a "full battle test" between the two defence treaty allies in response to regional security concerns. China has criticised the drills as provocative. Sunday's drills were held in the western Philippines province of Zambales that faces the South China Sea, a flashpoint between China and Southeast Asian nations. Ties between Beijing and Manila are their worst in years amid frequent confrontations in the disputed waterway that have sparked concerns of a military conflict. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said last week the country's coastguard had conducted maritime control operations at Sandy Cay, which China calls the Tiexian Reef, exercising sovereignty jurisdiction, and the Philippines on Sunday conducted a maritime operation in the area, observing the "illegal presence" of Chinese coastguard and "maritime militia" vessels. While the Philippine military has described this year's drills as a rehearsal for national defence, it said the exercises were not directed at any country. The integrated air and missile defence exercise in Zambales employed the Marine Air Defense Integrated System or MADIS, marking the system's second live-fire test and its first deployment to the Philippines. "This type of training is absolutely invaluable to us," 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment Officer John Lehane told reporters after the exercise. This year's Balikatan also featured the debut of the NMESIS, the U.S. anti-ship missile system, which will be employed during maritime key terrain security operations in Northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands, near Taiwan. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
