My question is this, what is our main self propeled air defense system? Is the Adats still active? Has the Hummer avenger taken over? Just curiouse what we are counting on for air defense at this time. I know the patriot is great but its not going to move with the forward troops from what I understand. Thought this might be a fun topic.

Andrew, probably not the answer your looking for but I'd have to say an Aegis Cruiser equipped with Standard Missiles...lol! :-)

Well I sure see the Avenger system deployed alot. I guess it suits the immediate need.

The Hawk system can be used but takes time to set up.

The Chapparal system I beleive is still in use as well. Sindwinder missiles.

I do not think that the Vulcan M-163 is used anymore as AAA.

Then lastly of course the individual Stinger system.

I think that our doctrine is to establish air supremacy and then go in. The AAA we have is deal with the straggler that wonders in maybe?

JMHO
Deacon
:-)

US ADA is broken into 2 categories: HIMAD (High- to Medium-Range Air Defender) and SHORAD (Short-Range-Air Defender), and never the two shall meet

HIMAD consists of the Patriot missile system, a theater air defense system.

SHORAD, right now, consists of the Avenger and Linebacker (aka BSFV or Bradley-Stinger Fighting Vehicle). The BSFV is basically an M3A3 but with a 4-Stinger missile pod in place of the twin TOW launcher. Armor and Mechanized Infantry Divisions have both types of SP ADA vehicles, the 101st ABN only has the Avenger. The 82nd has an airborne Stinger platoon.

Vulcan, Hawk and Chaparrel are long gone from the US Army systems. BTW, there was a New Mexican ARNG unit that used a German ADA missile system (Roland?) on the bed of an 800 series 5 ton truck. That system has also gone.

Sabot hit it dead on. The only self-propelled ADA assets that the US Army has is:

Bradley Linebacker
HMMWV Avenger

The Marine Corps have an ADA variant of the LAV in service. It consists of a 25mm gatling gun and I've seen pictures of it with two four round stinger assembly as well.

You can see all of the US ADA variants here as well as foreign vehicles

Current Military Ground Weapons

I'm not sure what the fate of ADATS is. The last I heard it was still being evaluated. I think the US needs to develop a system that isn't "missle dependent".

Thanks for the info guys. Looks like the Marines have a pretty good thing going there. Where any of those in service during desert storm other than the avenger (pretty sure it was anyway).

Both the Hawk and Vulcan were in service still during the Gulf War. Linebacker was not online yet, Avenger may have been there, at least Italeri gives you DS/DS markings in their kit.

I find it hard to fathom not having a gun system covering my royal backside against low flying AT choppers. I gotta believe there's some lag time between visually "ID'ing and firing a stinger(locking on,and such), Where as with a gun system it's point and shoot.You also have the added ground support role. Although in the US with the Bradley around that part might not be so important.Syrian Gazzelles were good menace in the Levant. The other thing is can someone say whether a stinger will engage through foliage,I know that a burst from a vulcan can do een through foliage.

Josh Weingarten
aKa shiryon

The Bradley Linebacker still retains the 25mm Bushmaster chain gun and a fire control system designed for aerial targets.