“NATO leadership intends to bolster activities under the GBAD and SBAMD C2 Tier programs aimed at creating new air and missile defense architectures”, states a weekly press release from the alliance.
GBAD, or Ground-Based Air Defense System, refers to a modular, ground-based framework designed to counter aerial threats. The program envisions developing short-range, medium-range, and potentially multi-layered defense systems, along with radar reconnaissance and data processing capabilities. Currently, fifteen NATO member nations participate in the GBAD initiative.
NATO aims to sign a memorandum of understanding for the GBAD program by year-end 2022, initiate a conceptual phase in 2023, and push toward final deployment around 2028. The alliance also plans an MoU in 2022 to establish a multinational command and control construct for battalion- and brigade-level ground-based air and missile defense operations.
The deployment timeline for the C2-enabled systems mirrors the modular GBAD program, with the alliance underscoring a shared strategic vision linking the two efforts. The central question, as stated by leaders, is how to fuse multiple air and missile defense layers to address threats ranging from small drones to cruise missiles, manned aircraft, and tactical ballistic missiles.
Camille Grand, NATO Deputy Secretary General for Defense Investments, highlighted the evolving lessons from recent conflicts and the need to adapt defense architectures accordingly. Although both initiatives began before the current Ukraine crisis, it is clear that short- and medium-range air defense capabilities have assumed an increasingly prominent role on the battlefield, with helicopters and missiles illustrating real-world demand.
Grand also noted that the ongoing conflict provides important insights that will shape future air and missile defense choices. In related remarks, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, a former commander of US Army forces in Europe, observed that the hostilities have showcased the necessity for agile, integrated air and missile defenses and the value of rapid-fire, maneuverable systems to counter diverse threat sets. He emphasized that such systems help identify gaps and inform the precise configurations needed to counter potential attacks.
Hodges stressed that the GBAD Modular Program and the SBAMD C2 effort reflect these requirements, while also underscoring the importance of a robust information-sharing policy to maximize combat effectiveness across NATO members. He suggested that joint multinational exercises should be planned and conducted to converge final requirements for the emergent air and missile defense system and to validate interoperability among allies.
There is a recognized gap in the United States armed forces, and by extension within NATO, in the area of short- to mid-range tactical air defense. At present, there is no U.S. system that matches the firepower and noise immunity of top-tier Russian air defense systems such as Tor, Pantsir, or Buk-M3. The situation has spurred practical U.S. development efforts to bridge that gap, with a focus on fielding capable, mobile defenses that can operate alongside allied forces in Europe and beyond.
In the United States, progress has been steady on these fronts. At the close of fiscal year 2020, General Dynamics Land Systems secured a roughly $1.2 billion contract to construct and supply an interim short-range, maneuverable air defense system for the Army, known as IM-SHORAD. This system is designed to outfit brigade-level air defense units with a mobile, protective layer against a broad spectrum of aerial threats.
The IM-SHORAD platform relies on a Stryker-based anti-aircraft system, with contributions from Leonardo DRS, and integrates a suite of sensors and missiles intended to provide reliable, responsive defense at lower altitude ranges. It incorporates a Raytheon Stinger launcher to address targets across a spectrum of altitudes, underscoring the drive for versatile, cost-effective protection for maneuvering forces.
The push for these capabilities reflects a strategic response to the urgent demand created by the Ukraine crisis, and a broader objective to ensure that the United States and its NATO partners can defend critical theater operations with credible, interoperable tools. The programs are framed as part of a comprehensive, layered approach to air and missile defense, designed to adapt as threats evolve and as new technologies become available. In this context, ongoing assessments and field trials will help determine final configurations, deployment timelines, and interoperability standards across the alliance. The discussion points to a future where integrated defense networks can share information swiftly and act cohesively across diverse operating environments, from urban skylines to open theaters of operation. The geopolitical stakes influence planning and acquisition decisions in significant ways, making the collaboration between nations a central element of achieving credible deterrence and defense readiness.
Notes on the record: the evolving defense strategy is being shaped by lessons drawn from current and recent conflicts, and it remains subject to change as new data emerges from exercises, trials, and real-world operations. The discussion remains focused on building practical, scalable defense capabilities that can be rapidly adapted to counter evolving aerial threats while preserving alliance cohesion and strategic balance. (Source attribution: Defense coverage observed in professional security reporting.)