Leonardo DRS has secured a $204m contract to deliver additional mission equipment packages (MEP) for Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment 1 (M-SHORAD Inc 1) systems.

As agreed, the company will supply 59 additional MEP to the prime contractor General Dynamics Land Systems.

The US Army’s M-SHORAD programme involves integrating existing guns, missiles, rockets and sensors onto a Stryker A1 vehicle to meet evolving requirements.

The capability will provide troops with the ability to manoeuvre at the tactical level and defeat uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAS), rotary-wing and fixed-wing threats.

M-SHORAD Inc 1 MEP includes Moog’s Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) turret along with multiple kinetic effectors such as the XM914E1 30mm cannon, M240 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, Stinger and Longbow HELFFIRE missiles.

The package also features Rada USA’s Multi-Mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR) and other enabling technologies.

The latest order follows the initial contract of 28 production MEPs. These packages are expected to be delivered early next year.

Leonardo DRS Land Systems senior vice-president and general manager Aaron Hankins said: “Leonardo DRS appreciates the army’s decision to procure the additional M-SHORAD Inc 1 systems. The team is on track to deliver the mission equipment packages to General Dynamics Land Systems on schedule.

“This capability is urgently needed for today’s battlefield, and we are excited to be a part of the team delivering it to our soldiers.”

Last month, Leonardo DRS announced the acquisition of gimbals producing company Ascendant Engineering Solutions (AES).