The Army's newest member of the Air Defense family of weapon systems is redefining short-range air defense (SHORAD). The Linebacker's speed, agility, and lethality bring a new dimension to the SHORAD battle. Fielded to mechanized and armor divisions, the Linebacker destroys low-altitude, high-speed aircraft–much like a football team's linebackers plug the threat at the line and intercept an opposing team's fleet running backs.

The Linebacker is effective against all modern air threats. It is well-designed to accomplish its mission to provide heavy maneuver forces with dedicated low-altitude air and missile defense against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters, and fixed wing aircraft.

The Bradley M6 Linebacker is the United States Army Air Defense Artillery's solution for divisional air defense. The Linebacker successfully integrates the combat proven Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Stinger missile systems. Under the direction of Bradley Program and the Ft. Bliss SHORAD (Short Range Air Defense) Program Manager, United Defense and Boeing are producing the Bradley Linebacker to fulfill the Army's critical requirement for forward divisional air defense warfighting capabilities. Successful target tracking and live missile firings have demonstrated that the Bradley Linebacker provides superior levels of air defense performance against post Cold War air threats. These threats include, Cruise type missiles, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Rotary Wing, and Fixed wing aircraft. Low-cost modifications have been made to the existing Bradley turret using the Stinger fire control, Slew-to-Cue systems and the Sentinel Radar target acquisition subsystems, which give Linebacker the ability to engage targets and fire the Stinger missile while on the move and under armor protection. The Bradley Linebacker provides the superior mobility, firepower and protection to assure completion of air defense missions, day or night.

Global Security