Moog and General Dynamics Land Systems UK (GDLSUK) have revealed a new short-range air defence (SHORAD) variant of the British Army’s Foxhound 4×4 protected patrol vehicle at DSEI 2025 in London.
The vehicle integrates Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP), already in U.S. Army service for SHORAD and counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) missions, onto the proven Foxhound platform. The result is a mobile system capable of countering drones, aircraft and other aerial threats while retaining the flexibility of Foxhound’s modular design.
The DSEI configuration is equipped with Starstreak or Martlet missiles, a 30×113 mm cannon, a 7.62 mm machine gun, and an electro-optic sensor. According to Moog, this demonstrates how light forces could leverage significant firepower in both air defence and C-UAS roles.
Richard Allen-Miles, EMEA Capture Lead at Moog, said: “We’re excited to showcase this highly capable SHORAD vehicle at DSEI 2025 and highlight even more cutting-edge solutions with General Dynamics Land Systems. The RIwP-equipped Foxhound is one of the most advanced platforms available today for SHORAD and thanks to its reconfigurability and base hub design, can be used for other missions, including C-UAS and MCCO.”
Nick Williams, Head of Strategy and Business Development at GDLSUK, added: “The RIwP-equipped Foxhound is a powerful example of British-led innovation and industrial collaboration. By integrating Moog’s proven RIwP system onto the battle-tested Foxhound platform in just weeks at our Merthyr Tydfil facility, we’ve demonstrated how agile, sovereign capability can be rapidly delivered to meet evolving threats. But this is just the beginning. Foxhound’s modular architecture and adaptability unlock significant untapped potential — not only for SHORAD and counter-UAS missions, but also for a wide range of operational roles.”
The companies emphasised that both Foxhound and RIwP are already mature systems in service, allowing for accelerated entry into service if adopted. The project also showcases UK industrial capability, with the integration carried out in Wales by British-led teams.
GDLSUK and Moog said the system could evolve for roles beyond SHORAD, including anti-armour and mounted close-combat overwatch, while offering an attractive option for export customers seeking adaptable, sovereign capability.
Great. Very very pressing and urgent requirement. Any chance of HMG actually ordering some GBAD systems? A few dozen of these will come in very handy for the army ditto RAF and RN for ground installation defence.
We can’t very well say industry is not trying can we?
Agree Jacko. This vehicle is precisely what we should be deploying. A relatively cheap polyvalent SHORAD system using a proven vehicle platform that is already in service.
It offers a graduated response. High end high value high performing drones get a missiles, medium capability drones get the canon whilst cheapo FPV drones deploying a kg or so of explosives get either the canon or machine gun.
The UK armed forces need dozens of these vehicles pronto. Evidence from yesterday’s Russian incursion into Polish airspace shows that. GBAD is NATOs and the UKs Achilles heel. We supposedly all committed to a 5 fold increase in GBAD capability. We’ve ordered a few more land Ceptor launchers for £150 million and that’s it. No low coat polyvalent unit to defeat masses of cheap drones. This vehicle is PRECISELY what we should be ordering.
Mr Bell you win the best word prize of the week with polyvalent 👏
Beyond that I agree with everything you just said.
BOOM.
All this great 🇬🇧 kit, why don’t the MOD order some? Common sense, good value, and needed surely?
A mystery for our time?
Show room only
Perfect fit for what our armed forces need and should be there at ALL military installations and our critical infrastructure installations. Possibly could this also be fitted to warships? Perfect fit for them and RFA’s. Lets see some orders coming in ASAP. As so far this Gov have ordered nothing of any substance for our Miltiary!
Can we order some and send them to Ukraine for testing. Seems like the perfect cost effective system we could use for guarding airfields and other instillations from drones. Much better idea than trying to put Sky Sabre batteries everywhere.
The US is developing programmable airburst munitions for the 30×113 mm cannon so this system should be able to defeat everything from drones swarms to low flying cruise missiles.
Would that airburst ammunition work be compatible with the Royal Navy 30mm cannons?
That is interesting because it’s one of the real weakness of the Rivers 2 weapons fit as will as the secondary weapons fit for the older escorts and larger ships getting a good proximity fused airburst on the 30mms in RN service would make a real difference.. it’s why I keep harping on about giving the carriers and Rivers 2 40mm Mk4s.
Now buy them in quantity. In recent weeks, there has been some cooling of UK defence spending, according to rumours emanating from the Treasury; however, that was before the Polish border drone incident and the political turmoil in France. Now, this new situation leaves the UK more exposed and with fewer fiscal options, and forced to hike taxes at the next budget. The Ukrainian War is now beginning to trigger unexpected scenarios, which can only be faced if the UK rapidly rearms to take a leading role in the defence of Europe, and I believe this can only be achieved through emergency actions, cutting red tape and taking the initiative.
Question for anyone who knows Moog. The optics here look very low down and could have some vision obscured or, are they telescoped? Maybe its not an issue.
Another question, if Moog can put 2×4 StarStreak/Martlet on a 30mm can they do the same with the Naval 30mm mounts?
I see Angus above asking same.
Foxhound’s out of service date appears to be 2030. If (big if?) that’s true, is it the right platform for this SHORAD fit?
Well if it’s got a 30mm cannon and martlet missiles it would also make one nasty little direct fire platform as a secondary role. This would be pretty perfect for 11th, 4th, 7th and 16th brigades.
All sorts of possibilities? However the only possibility that will come out of it is the fact we won’t buy any🙄
It’s enough to make you seriously as what politics is at play upstairs at Andover and with HMG.
Are they that cash stripped?
It’s interesting when one looks at 12RA and it’s component Batteries.
HVM Stsrstreak on Stormer was once plentiful, compared to other types, in it’s allocation to BGs and Brigades.
Until Labour gutted it, along with the RAF Regiments GBAD Sqns in 2004, as we didn’t need AD anymore against tribesmen in Helmand.
Recently, another Fire Battery has formed in 12 RA.
I’ve not counted recently, but I question whether enough Batteries exist in 12 RA for 12,20,DRSB,7,4,16 Bdes so they each have a Battery allocated, which, as I understand it, usually happens with these high demand, low density niche capabilities.
As some have said here, even if the Batteries exist, the kit doesn’t.
And another point:
The much reported urgent order fir 12 VAMTAC Rapid Ranger with LMM to replace the 6 Stormer sent to UKR didn’t seem to progress.
Why?
As usual, the wait to see what this mythical trippling of SHORAD comprises continues.
Surprised no mention of the UK joining the Patria 6×6 program.
It was discussed on the Ajax IFV thread.
But yes, no article yet.
So….this vehicle is used by Infantry Battalions of 7 Light Mech Brigade.
Even if the Bde ends up on Boxer, and the Foxhounds are given to 4 Bde, or the Reserve, it seems such an obvious purchase?
Until one looks at our only Regular SHORAD Regiment, 12RA, to see if they even have a Battery allocated to 7 Bde.
Even if they don’t, SHORAD is meant to triple, according to the CGS.
Spin? Or reality.
There seems to be a never ending conveyer belt of GBAD kit, often from UK suppliers, like some version of The Generation Game.
And the Army and HMG sit and watch the offerings go by and do nothing.
Why?
We ever going to buy any or just have meeting about it? Good system on vehicle we already have, and fills a large gab with have. Lets wait and see if any thing happens or will drown in endless MOD speak and waffle but get no where.