The U.S. Army plans to send newest Stryker MSL (Maneuver SHORAD Launcher) short-range Air Defense systems armed with Hellfire missiles to Europe, Warrior Mavin reports.

It is reported that Stryker armored fighting vehicles with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles are headed to Europe sooner than expected to bolster the short-range air defense (SHORAD) systems that the U.S Army has funneled into the region to counter Russia.

“We are looking for a rapid solution for the near-term fight,” Maj. Gen. John Ferarri, Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, told Warrior Maven in an interview.

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The U.S. Army in Europe is in urgently needed air defense system of this class to counter Russia in Europe and provide more support to maneuvering Brigade Combat Teams in combat. The fighting experience in Syria and Iraq showed еру increased close-in air threats from the possible use by a potential enemy of cruise missiles and small unmanned aerial vehicles.

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The program, which plans to deploy its first vehicles to Europe by 2020, is part of an Army effort called short-range-air-defense – Initial Maneuver (SHORAD).