Arms manufacturer Moog has introduced its new turret system Lightweight Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (LW RIwP), a compact, modular weapon system built for lighter vehicles such as the Infantry Squad Vehicle.
It can integrate a 30mm cannon and multiple missile effectors for light formations to field heavier firepower while maintaining mobility. The platform can be airlifted or sling-loaded, offering flexibility in rapid-deployment missions.
The new turret system is designed for the US Army’s Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment 4 program. Moog said the new turret shares software, training, and sustainment systems with its existing Standard RIwP turret already deployed with army M-SHORAD units.
The design includes increased ammunition capacity and advanced fire control to extend engagement duration and improve targeting accuracy. The system’s modular layout allows quick integration of different sensors or weapon systems for evolving mission requirements.
Moog’s RIwP technology has been field-tested through programs such as the SGT Stout and Mobile Low, Slow, Small UAS Integrated Defense System, both focused on defending against drones and low-flying aerial threats.
The M-SHORAD Increment 4
The M-SHORAD Increment 4 program is part of the army’s broader effort to modernize its short-range air defense fleet amid the growing use of drones and precision-guided munitions.
The initiative seeks to equip smaller, faster vehicles with scalable air defense turrets that can engage both aerial and ground threats.
Other defense firms have also developed systems for the program. Leonardo DRS and General Dynamics Land Systems continue to deliver the Stryker-based M-SHORAD Increment 1 units, which integrate Stinger missiles and 30mm cannons.
Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, are advancing laser and missile-based interceptors for future increments to improve mobility and responsiveness against low-altitude drones and cruise missiles.
The army plans to field the Increment 4 systems around 2030 for a layered air defense network that spans from vehicle-mounted interceptors to fixed-base systems like the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.
