It is able to launch Stinger missile at a rate of one every four seconds (15 missiles per minute). Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The tail has four folding fins that deliver roll and stability while the missile is in flight. While modern flares can have an IR signature that is closely matched to the launching aircraft's engine exhaust, there is a readily distinguishable difference in UV signature between flares and jet engines. (March 3, 2022) https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/the-missile-terrorized-russia-getting-super-update-22384, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. " The modified missile offers ground troops better defense against small, agile threats [source: Osborn, Raytheon Missiles & Defense]. For comparison, only the M6 Linebacker and HMMWV Avenger carry an equal (or more) Stinger missiles. In this article, you will have a chance to learn about the Stinger missile, and how it is utilized on the battlefield. The Stinger is a static anti-aircraft turret used by both the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army forces in ArmA 2. With the arsenal declining from obsolescence, on 10 November 2020 the U.S. Army issued a request for information for a replacement MANPADS. When the seeker locks on, it makes a distinctive noise. The 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment made an unsuccessful fire during a Libyan bombardment on 10 September 1987 and shot down a Hercules transport aircraft on 7 July 1988. This camera might have an array of anything from 2x2 (in older designs) to 128x128 (in the Sidewinder design) infrared sensors that receive an infrared image of the scene. A contract for up to 8,000 missiles is planned to be awarded by 2026. The missiles also identify the UV "shadow" of the target and use that identification to distinguish the target from other heat-producing objects. The in-game Stinger's setup is based on a real-life configuration dubbed as the "Dual Mount Stinger" by the Hughes Missile Systems Company (now owned by Raytheon Missile Systems). [29] If this report is accurate, Stingers would be responsible for over half of the 451 Soviet aircraft losses in Afghanistan. President Zia constantly had to gauge how much he could "make the pot boil" in Afghanistan without provoking a Soviet invasion of his own country. This may be to replace stock sent to Ukraine. To fire the missile, a BCU (Battery Coolant Unit) is inserted into the gripstock. [18], The final say-so came down to President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, through whom the CIA had to pass all of its funding and weapons to the Mujahideen. In late 1985, several groups, such as Free the Eagle, began arguing the CIA was not doing enough to support the Mujahideen in the SovietAfghan War. Here are the stats on the Stinger missile: For more information on Stinger missiles and related topics, check out the links below. The Stinger missile can hit targets flying as high as 11,500 feet (3,500 meters), and has a range of about 5 miles (8 kilometers). If the multiplier is 2, then if the guidance system thinks it is 10 degrees off course, it will change its flight direction by 20 degrees. Denmark said that it will provide parts for 300 missiles, to be assembled in the United States. Rferl.org. [48], The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam also managed to acquire one or several Stingers, possibly from former Mujahideen stocks, and used at least one to down a Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 on 10 November 1997. The Stinger's 70 mm missiles are fitted with high-explosive (HE) warheads, and are capable of hitting target at ranges of up to 4,000 metres away. The Stinger was intended to supplant the FIM-43 Redeye MANPAD system, the principal difference being that, unlike the Redeye, the Stinger can acquire the target when the target approaches the operator, giving much more time to acquire and destroy the target. Germany announced that it would provide 500 missiles. This means that the target is an airplane less than 2 miles (3.21 kilometers) high and it is visible as a shape (rather than a dot), then most likely the Stinger missile can hit it.
The first examples were delivered to front-line units in 1989. Oct. 2, 2018. [54] [21][27][28], According to the 1993 US Air Defense Artillery Yearbook, the Mujahideen gunners used the supplied Stingers to score approximately 269 total aircraft kills in about 340 engagements, a 79% kill probability. The Stinger is a defensive, surface-to-air missile turret that launches infrared-guided missiles. Trimble, Steve. As retired Army Lt. Gen. Jim Dubik told the publication Army Times, the Stinger is a weapon with the potential to be "a game changer," giving soldiers on the ground the ability to contest the airspace, and hinder the enemy's ability to conduct operations [source: Gould and Altman]. However, as it isn't constrained by the need to "store" backup missiles within the user's inventory, the Stinger pod can house more than just two extra missiles at a time. (March 3, 2022) https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/ausa/2017/10/09/raytheon-demonstrates-stinger-on-stryker-for-short-range-air-defense/, Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. [4] The Stinger-RMP is so-called because of its ability to load a new set of software via ROM chip inserted in the grip at the depot. The missile began as a program by General Dynamics to produce an improved variant of their 1967 FIM-43 Redeye. According to Soviet figures, in 19871988, only 35 aircraft and 63 helicopters were destroyed by all causes. Following the latest Steam version patches as part of the Community Configuration Project update, Stinger pods were generically renamed to ". He was later granted political asylum by the French government. [18][19][20] As part of Operation Cyclone, the CIA eventually supplied nearly 500 Stingers (some sources claim 1,5002,000) to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan,[21] and 250 launchers. Oct. 9, 2017. [41] As in Afghanistan, efforts to recover missiles after the end of hostilities proved incomplete. The program was accepted for further development as Redeye II by the U.S. Army in 1971 and designated FIM-92; the Stinger appellation was chosen in 1972. "FIM-92 Stinger. "
It uses a passive infrared seeker.
The battery of a Stinger lasts for four or five years, so any battery supplied in the 1980s would now be inoperative[42] but during the Syrian Civil War, insurgents showed how easily they switched to different batteries, including widespread car batteries, as power sources for several MANPADS models. March 1, 2022. [8]. At the onset of the conflict soldiers of the British Army's Special Air Service had been clandestinely equipped with six missiles, although they had received little instruction in their use. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Germany and the United States have sent hundreds of Stinger missiles (like this one being fired during a Marine Corp training mission) to help Ukraine fight the invasion from Russia. [61] In late April 2022, Raytheon Technologies CEO Greg Hayes told investors that the company was experiencing supply chain issues and would not be able to ramp up production of Stinger missiles until 2023. Six National Gendarmerie Special Forces were killed and eight more wounded. These correspond to the FIM-92A, FIM-92B, and FIM-92C and later variants respectively. Feb. 28, 2022. "Amid fears of Russian air dominance, US to send anti-aircraft Stingers to Ukraine. " The nose of a Stinger missile has, essentially, an infrared digital camera in it. The Stinger missile is so successful because it's what's known as a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), which means it's easy to launch from just about anywhere. 
The sole SAS trooper who had received training on the system, and was due to train other troops, was killed in a helicopter crash on 19 May. The motor will ignite 0.25 seconds after launch, and take an additional 2 seconds to reach a top speed of 750 m/s. [55] The FIM-92 Stinger is a passive surface-to-air missile that can be shoulder-fired by a single operator (although standard military procedure calls for two operators, team chief and gunner). It can be adapted to fire from a wide variety of ground vehicles, and from helicopters as the Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS). Because of technical difficulties that dogged testing, the first shoulder launch was not until mid-1975. Raytheon Chief Executive Greg Hayes said on 26 April: Some of the components are no longer commercially available, and so were going to have to go out and redesign some of the electronics in the missile of the seeker head. "How Stinger Missiles Work" The Stinger is capable of firing only one type of missile: Stinger missiles are fired with an initial velocity of 40 m/s. "[18] Their increasingly successful Afghanistan strategy, formed largely by Michael G. Vickers, was based on a broad mix of weapons, tactics, and logistics, not a 'silver bullet solution' of a single weapon. "Raytheon demonstrates Stinger on Stryker for short-range air defense. " The Hill. The only difference is that it is (obviously) static and cannot be carried over the user's shoulder or unpacked into a man-portable backpack form. Stinger missiles use passive IR/UV sensors to track targets. An improved Stinger with a new seeker, the FIM-92B, was produced from 1983 alongside the FIM-92A. It is a "fire-and-forget" weapon, meaning it requires no input from the gunner once it's fired. [51], During the 1980s, the Stinger was used to support different US-aligned guerrilla forces, notably the Afghan Mujahidins, the Chad government against the Libyan invasion and the Angolan UNITA. Neither US officials or officials from Raytheon have commented. It entered service in 1981 and is used by the militaries of the United States and 29 other countries. On both sides of the seat are twin FIM-92F Stinger SAM launchers. The Missile That Terrorized Russia Is Getting a Super Update. " The missile is 5.0ft (1.52m) long and 2.8in (70mm) in diameter with 3.9in (100mm) fins. "Stinger Missile." The main changes were again in the sensor and the software, improving the missile's performance against low-signature targets. The missile itself weighs 22lb (10.1kg), while the missile with its launch tube and integral sight, fitted with a gripstock and Identification friend or foe (IFF) antenna, weighs approximately 34lb (15.2kg). During one of these operations, a Sukhoi Su-24M was shot down on 3 May 1993 with a Stinger fired by opposition. (March 3, 2022) https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-military-aid-ukraine-equipment/31725290.html, Phillips, Michael M. "Launching the Missile That Made History. " Then, a tenth of a second later it will look at the angle again, and change again. National Interest. The sensors in a motion-sensing light are tuned to the temperature of a human being. Oct. 1, 2011. [23] According to Soviet figures, by 25 December 1987, only 38 aircraft (airplanes, helicopters) were lost and 14 more were damaged by MANPADS (Blowpipe or Stinger), or 10.2% kill probability.[31]. The Reagan administration provided 310 Stingers to Jonas Savimbi's UNITA movement in Angola between 1986 and 1989. The main MANPADS used by both sides during the Falklands War was the Blowpipe missile. All weapons supplied up to that point were non-U.S. sourced weapons, including Kalashnikov style assault rifles made in China and Egypt. There are three main variants in use: the Stinger Basic, Stinger-Passive Optical Seeker Technique (POST), and Stinger-Reprogrammable Microprocessor (RMP). In, United States tri-service rocket designations post-1963, Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of Soviet aircraft losses during the SovietAfghan War, the 451 Soviet aircraft losses in Afghanistan, attempted to buy back the Stinger missiles, attacked a Turkish military convoy near Idlib, "FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System: RMP & Basic", U.S. Army Opens 5-Year Search For Stinger Missile Replacement, The Army is hunting for a replacement for its man-portable Stinger missile, "US Army Seeks Aging Stinger Missiles Replacement", "US buys more Stingers to refill stock sent to Ukraine: Report", "US Army starts upgrade of FIM-92E Stinger Block I missiles", Stinger upgrade to increase service life, capabilities, "Department of Defense Authorization for Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1981: Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate, Ninety-sixth Congress, Second Session, on S. 2294", "Technical Reports Awareness Circular: TRAC", "San Carlos Air Battles - Falklands War 1982", "Argentine Puma shot down by american "Stinger" missile. Thats going to take us a little bit of time., According to the report this new contract has no timeline. The Stinger was developed in the early 1970s [source: Trimble]. While the missile is flying, the image of the airplane that it is trying to hit may become off-center on the image sensor. "Stingers could be a game-changer in the battle for Ukraine." This delay was in part due to the fact the Stinger was scheduled to be replaced in the 2020s and thus contained obsolete components, which have to be redesigned for modern procurement. The Stinger is launched by a small ejection motor that pushes it a safe distance from the operator before engaging the main two-stage solid-fuel sustainer, which accelerates it to a maximum speed of Mach2.54 (750m/s). This allows it to distinguish targets from countermeasures much better than the Redeye and FIM-92A, which have IR-only. From the perspective of soldiers on the ground, low-flying enemy aircraft are normally a problem because they are either bombing or strafing (attacking repeatedly with bombs or machine-gun fire), doing surveillance work, or inserting, extracting and resupplying enemy troops. [44], The Chadian government received Stinger missiles from the United States, when Libya invaded the northern part of the African country. [18][33] That launch tube is now on exhibit at the US Army Air Defense Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, OK. Other military analysts tend to be dismissive of the impact to the Stinger. U.S. Army photo by Capt. (March 3, 2022) https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/air-dominance/us-army-opens-5-year-search-stinger-missile-replacement, Woody, Christopher. Both Russian pilots were rescued. It is a shoulder-launched weapon, and one person can launch a Stinger missile (although you normally see a two-man team operating the missile). This device consists of a supply of high-pressure gaseous argon which is injected into the seeker to cryogenically cool it to operating temperature, and a thermal battery which provides power for target acquisition: a single BCU provides power and coolant for roughly 45 seconds, after which another must be inserted if the missile has not been fired. By 1988, Kuperman states, the Mujahideen had all but stopped firing them. Updated: Mar 3, 2022.
The BCUs are somewhat sensitive to abuse, and have a limited shelf life due to argon leakage. The FIM-92 Stinger is an American man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). That day, video footage emerged of alleged Turkish soldiers (backing Syrian opposition fighters) firing what apparently looks like a Roketsan-made Stinger against either Russian or Syrian aircraft (or possibly against both).[53]. (March 3, 2022) https://thehill.com/opinion/international/592673-stingers-could-be-a-game-changer-in-the-battle-for-ukraine, Judson, Jen. When the sensors see a sudden change in the amount of infrared light, they turn on the light. This allows them to take cover, move to another position or engage a new target. [26][23] Soviet, and later, Russian, accounts give little significance to the Stinger for strategically ending the war. The Simple Difference Between Ballistic Missiles and Cruise Missiles, How Biological and Chemical Warfare Works. Stingers also are used on the U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache combat helicopter as an air-to-air weapon [source: Raytheon Missiles & Defense]. To launch a Stinger missile, a soldier basically just points it at the target, and when the seeker locks on, they pull the trigger. Approves $4.25 billion Apache helo sale to Morocco", "Turkey & Stinger MANPADS Missile Procurement", "The U.S. And Allies Supply Lethal Military Aid TO Ukraine", "Kamerbrief stand van zaken ontwikkelingen in en rondom Oekrane - Kamerstuk - Rijksoverheid.nl", "Live updates: Germany to send anti-tank weapons to Ukraine", "Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance for Ukraine", "Raytheon Awarded $321 Million Stinger Missiles Contract For U.S. Army", Raytheon (General Dynamics) FIM-92 Stinger Designation Systems, FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System: RMP & Basic, Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services, Raytheon AN/MSQ-18 Battalion Missile Operations System, AN/TPQ-53 Quick Reaction Capability Radar, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=FIM-92_Stinger&oldid=1098726257, Cold War surface-to-air missiles of the United States, Military equipment introduced in the 1980s, Naval surface-to-air missiles of the United States, Surface-to-air missiles of the United States, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from March 2013, All articles needing additional references, Articles needing additional references from October 2009, All articles with vague or ambiguous time, Vague or ambiguous time from February 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2021, Articles lacking reliable references from August 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, FIM-92A, FIM-92B, FIM-92C, FIM-92D, FIM-92G, This page was last edited on 17 July 2022, at 06:09. The soldier pulls the trigger, and two things happen: The missile then flies to the target automatically and explodes. [18] Representative Charlie Wilson, the politician behind Operation Cyclone, described the first Stinger Mi-24 shootdowns in 1986 as one of the three crucial moments of his experience in the war, saying "we never really won a set-piece battle before September 26, and then we never lost one afterwards. Furthermore, the previous attempts to provide MANPADs to the Mujahideen, namely the SA-7 and Blowpipe, hadn't worked very well. [46][47], Russian officials claimed several times that the Chechen militia and insurgents possessed US-made Stinger missiles. [35], The last Stingers were supplied in 1988 after increasing reports of fighters selling them to Iran and thawing relations with Moscow. [39][49], In 2000, the U.S. inventory contained 13,400 missiles. "Biden is sending Stinger missiles to Ukraine for the first time, which could be used to shoot down Russian helicopters." The propulsion section includes a launch motor and a dual-thrust flight motor. The original Stinger's reprogrammable microprocessor will become obsolete in 2023, and a service life extension will keep the Block I in service until 2030. The new system will be compatible with the Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher used on the IM-SHORAD and be able to defeat fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as Group 2 and 3 UAS as well or better than the Stinger. Latvia,[58] It is rumored that the United States Secret Service has Stinger missiles to defend the President, a notion that has never been dispelled; however, U.S. Secret Service plans favor moving the President to a safer place in the event of an attack rather than shooting down the plane, lest the missile (or the wreckage of the target aircraft) hit innocents. Production of both the A and B types ended in 1987 with around 16,000 missiles produced. ", "The World: The Stinger Missile; Helping to Change the Course of a War", "The Limits of Soviet Air Power: The Bear versus Mujahideen in Afghanistan by Edward Westermann", "U.S. Increases Fund To Outbid Terrorists For Afghan Missiles", "Middle East brief (deleted) for 2 August 1988: In brief: xQatar", "Stingers, Stingers, Who's Got the Stingers? According to Reuters the US government has signed a contract for 1,468 Stingers worth a total of $687 million. A software upgrade in 2001 was designated F. Block II development began in 1996 using a new focal plane array sensor to improve the missile's effectiveness in "high clutter" environments and increase the engagement range to about 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Armed Assault Wiki is a FANDOM Games Community. A motion-sensing light needs only one sensor. [24][25] This opinion was shared by Yossef Bodansky. [23] But these statistics are based on Mujahideen self-reporting, which is of unknown reliability. 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Michael Pillsbury, Vincent Cannistraro, and others put enormous bureaucratic pressure on the CIA to provide the Stinger to the rebels. The Nicaraguan contras were not provided with Stingers due to the lack of fixed wing aircraft of the Sandinista government, as such the previous generation FIM-43 Redeye was considered adequate. Defense News. Lithuania,[59] Guidance to the target is initially through proportional navigation, then switches to another mode that directs the missile towards the target airframe instead of its exhaust plume.