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A new modular turret system designed for lightweight military vehicles could reshape how ground forces respond to aerial and ground threats. Developed as part of the U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment 4 program, the Lightweight Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (LW RIwP) offers a compact, high-firepower option for mobile formations.
The turret, presented by Moog at the recent AUSA defense expo in Washington, integrates a 30mm cannon alongside missile launchers and an advanced fire-control system. Its modular design allows it to be mounted on smaller platforms such as the Infantry Squad Vehicle, giving light units access to capabilities typically reserved for heavier, less mobile systems.
One of the key strengths of the LW RIwP lies in its adaptability. The system can be reconfigured with different sensors or weapon payloads depending on mission needs, making it well-suited to counter a wide variety of threats, including drones, low-flying aircraft, and ground targets. Increased ammunition capacity and a precision targeting system extend engagement time and improve accuracy.
According to Interesting Engineering, despite its reduced weight, the LW RIwP shares core software and support infrastructure with its larger predecessor, the Standard RIwP. This ensures ease of training and logistics across units, while also lowering the cost of integration.
The lightweight system builds on operational insights from earlier programs focused on counter-UAS and low-altitude threats. Moog has previously contributed to efforts like SGT Stout and the Mobile Low, Slow, Small UAS Integrated Defense System. These initiatives inform the design of the LW RIwP, which is intended to deliver scalable firepower in a rapidly deployable form.
With the U.S. Army aiming to field Increment 4 M-SHORAD systems by 2030, this new turret enters a growing ecosystem of short-range air defense tools that include kinetic, missile, and laser-based interceptors. As adversaries increasingly use drones and precision-guided munitions, platforms like the LW RIwP highlight a shift toward highly mobile, adaptable defense technologies for frontline units.
The report was published on Moog’s site.
