Modern air defense units today are using missile and artillery weapons to defend against air targets. There are short-range, medium-range and long-range weapons, and the work will focus on artillery air defense weapons that belong to the group of short-range weapons. In accordance with the development of modern threats from the airspace, which is moving towards a large number of simple, small and cheap flying objects, artillery air defense weapons have been given a more significant role in air defense, while missile weapons are unprofitable for this purpose. Modern threats from the airspace that are potential targets of artillery air defense systems are described in order to identify their cons and weaknesses. Also there are described a short-range artillery weapons that differs in terms of purpose. Since it has been noticed that self-propelled artillery air defense weapons are the most optimal for different types of operations, we will mostly talk about systems of this type. In order for these air defense weapons to fully fulfill their purpose, it is necessary to meet some norms in the form of tactical and technical characteristics and the requirements that are placed in front of them. Mobility, autonomy, firepower, range and projectile type were singed out as the basic features needed to achieve maximum efficiency. The Republic of Croatia, as a member of the NATO Alliance, is destined for systems compatible with the requirements of the NATO Alliance, and since the existing artillery air defense system in the application of the Croatian Armed Forces is obsolete, it tends to procure more modern systems.. Some systems of NATO member countries that meet most of the requirements for use in air defense units of the Croatian Army are listed, and an analysis was conducted for the purpose of the most optimal choice and successful integration with other systems.