Stinger

Stinger MANPADS FIM-92

Stinger (FIM-92) is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) developed by General Dynamics to provide high accuracy and enhanced air defence capabilities to the armed forces. Raytheon Missile Systems is the primary manufacturer of the Stinger, while the missile is also produced under licence by EADS.

The lethal surface-to-air missile (SAM) can be deployed for defence against all classes of helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), cruise missiles, as well as low-level fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. It offers supersonic speed and agility.

The US Army deployed the Stinger missiles with the land forces, armed helicopters and Bradley tracked fighting vehicles. The missiles are also used by the US Navy, US Marine Corps, US Air Force (USAF) and a number of other countries.

More than 30 Stinger missiles were successfully test fired against aerial and fixed targets at the Eglin Air Force Base range in March 2014.

Stinger SAM design and features

The shoulder-fired, fire-and-forget Stinger SAM system employs rolling airframe canard control concept. It is controlled by two operators and can operate under all weather conditions.

The front section of the missile is equipped with a two-colour rosette scanning seeker with infrared (IR) / ultraviolet (UV) detectors to acquire the targets. The IR detector is used to sense the hot exhaust gases, while the UV detector is used to track radiation.

The information acquired by the seeker is sent to the passive, highly accurate homing guidance and control system. The missile is guided by proportional navigation.

The Stinger missile has a length of 1.52m, a diameter of 7.62cm and fin span of 10.16cm. The system weighs around 10kg, while the total weight including that of grip stock is 15.87kg.

The combat-proven missile system is fitted with four tail fins, dual-thrust flight motor, lithium battery / coolant unit (BCU), computer-based full-up simulations, and belt-pack identification, friend or foe (IFF) transceiver. A reusable launch tube with a grip stock provides target tracking. A separate launch motor is also fitted at the tail.

Stinger SAM warhead

The Stinger missile system is equipped with a conventional high-explosive, penetrating hit-to-kill warhead projectile supplied by American Ordnance. It consists of an impact fuse assembly, a self-destruct timer and up to 1lb of high explosives encased in a pyrophoric titanium cylinder. The lethal warhead weighs 3kg.

Propulsion

The Stinger missile is propelled by a two-stage boost / sustainer solid propellant flight motor, which provides a speed of more than Mach 2. The motor is powered by improved composite solid propellants. The propulsion system ensures the missile to operate at a maximum altitude of approximately 10,000ft and provides a maximum range of five miles.

Used in excellent condition.

1 missile – projectile you get in kit.