In August 1990, Sheridans were airdropped into Saudi Arabia as the spearhead of the buildup of Operation Desert Shield. In October 1990, HASC  deferred the Block III main battle tank and directed the Army to make the AGS its top priority modernization program.
In August 1990, Sheridans were deployed in Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield's initial phase. In October 1990, HASC prioritized the Army's modernization efforts by focusing on the Advanced Ground Surveillance (AGS) program over the Block III main battle tank.