SHORAD

SHORAD, short for short-range air defense, refers to a category of weapons, sensors, and command-and-control systems designed to protect military forces, bases, and other assets from aerial threats at relatively short distances. SHORAD is intended to defend against aircraft, helicopters, drones, and missiles, and it usually operates as a complement to longer-range air defense networks.

Ranges and capabilities vary by system but are generally limited to the low tens of kilometers and relatively low to moderate engagement altitudes. SHORAD is used for point defense of vital assets such as bases, convoys, and forward operating locations, as well as for protecting maneuver units in the field. In practice, effectiveness depends on integration with surveillance, fire control, and higher-level air defense networks, as well as the ability to counter saturation attacks and drones.

The category encompasses a variety of platforms and armaments. These include man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), vehicle-mounted systems, and turreted or self-propelled systems. Armament may consist of short-range missiles, rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns, and gun-missile combinations. Modern SHORAD often deploys multi-sensor suites, including radar and electro-optical/infrared tracking, integrated with fire-control and command-and-control networks to provide rapid target acquisition and engagement.

Examples of SHORAD implementations include wheeled and tracked systems that mount missiles or guns, such as Avenger-type setups with short-range missiles, turreted gun systems, and compact mobile missiles. Notable national programs use various configurations, including lightweight MANPADS, and more integrated turreted systems designed to counter a range of air threats, including drones.