The U.S. Army today awarded Raytheon approximately $321 million for Stinger missile production.
The FIM-92 Stinger is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). It can be adapted to fire from a wide variety of ground vehicles and helicopters (as an air-to-air missile).
Light to carry and easy to operate, 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). The FIM-92B missile can also be fired from the M-1097 Avenger and the M6 Linebacker. The missile is also capable of being deployed from a Humvee Stinger rack, and can be used by airborne troops.
Cruise Missile Defense Systems Project Office’s site describes the new FIM 92 STINGER RMP BLOCK I as:
“the fourth generation STINGER missile, is an advanced, fire-and-forget, short-range, man-portable, air defense weapon system. It provides low-altitude defense for ground forces against attack or aerial observation by low-flying Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs), cruise missiles, rotary and fixed-wing aircraft. STINGER is passive, emitting no signals, and employs an infrared (heat seeking) / ultraviolet seeker to guide to the target.”
General Dynamics developed the FIM-92 Stinger in the 1970s, and was introduced in 1981. The Man-Portable Air-Defense System uses infrared homing (or heat seeking) and has since seen combat in theatres around the world. It is in service currently with the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Army with over 15,000 missiles believed to currently be in inventory.
A U.S. Marine Corps Instructor from 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion (2nd LAAD) explains how to fire an FIM-92 Stinger missile:
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