General Dynamics has launched an upgraded version of its Pandur 6×6 combat vehicle, now tailored to support air defense missions.
The new Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) variant is equipped with Moog’s unmanned RIwP turret (Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform), capable of neutralizing both ground and aerial threats.
It also features a software-defined cognitive Ku-band medium-range radar to monitor airspace and track targets.
Additionally, the Pandur M-SHORAD is armed with a 30x113mm caliber XM914 cannon and eight Stinger anti-aircraft missile launchers, enhancing its lethality.
“The Pandur with integrated RlwP is a further proof of the high flexibility and modularity of this family of vehicles,” the company stated. “[It] is particularly capable of providing highly mobile force protection against manned and unmanned airborne threats.”
The new Pandur variant will be showcased at the 2025 AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition in Huntsville, Alabama.
‘Lighter, More Mobile’
The introduction of the Pandur M-SHORAD follows the US Army’s request for information on its M-SHORAD Increment 4 program in May 2024.
The initiative, dubbed “Sergeant Stout,” aims to develop a more cost-effective and lightweight platform compared to the existing Stryker-based M-SHORAD system.
This new platform is also expected to counter Group 1-3 unmanned aircraft systems.
Ray Moldovan, business development manager at General Dynamics, explained that the new Pandur weighs about 40,000 pounds (18,143 kilograms), approximately 20,000 pounds (9,071 kilograms) lighter than the Stryker-based platform.
It also boosts operational efficiency, thanks to its two control consoles for the weapon system and fire control computers integrated inside the vehicle.
“We’re looking at lighter weight and greater inter-theater and intra-theater transportability,” he explained.
