Short-range air defense systems with 360-degree turret installed at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate Muskan Bhatia
Amid the heightened concerns about President Donald J. Trump’s safety, the U.S. Secret Service has deployed AN/TWQ-1 Avenger short-range air defense systems (SHORADS) near his residence at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. These systems, manufactured by Boeing, are mounted atop the U.S. Army’s 4X4 military trucks, the Heavy High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), or Humvees, and were also installed about three miles west of Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Mobile missile system The Avenger features a 360-degree rotating turret with two missile pods mounted on a Humvee’s heavy chassis and can fire FIM-92 Stinger missiles. Each launcher has a capacity to hold four of these heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles and operates day and night in all weather conditions. A gunner guards the Avenger from the firing station between the two missile pods and operates the launcher. The crew can also operate the weapon system from a remote control unit up to meters away from the firing line. As operational requirements change, the highly mobile Avenger systems can be repositioned to defend against incoming aerial threats, offering air defense for the maneuver force. The upgraded missile system provides on-the-go defensive protection for troops on the ground and in homeland security operations, countering aerial threats, including drones. These infrared-guided weapons were originally designed to defeat helicopters, aircraft, cruise missiles, and larger unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They engage aerial targets at low altitudes and are designed to protect specific locations rather than defend an entire region. According to photos shared on online platforms, two such Avengers have been deployed near the Trump International Airport.