FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS
The FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS
(U.S. Army Photo)
FIM-92 Stinger Specifications
| Origin: | General Dynamics USA
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| Type: | Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS)
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| Missile Length: | 5ft 0in (1.52m)
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| Missile body diameter: | 2.75in (7cm)
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| Missile span: | 5.5in (14cm)
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| Missile Launch Weight: | 24lbs (10.9kg)
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| Entire Package Weight: | 35lbs (15.8kg)
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| Propulsion: | Mk-27 Atlantic Research Dual-Thrust Rocket
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| Guidance: | Passive all-aspect infrared (IR)
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| Range: | 3.1+mi (5+km)
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| Warhead: | 6.6lb (3kg) blast-fragmentation
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| Flight Speed: | 2,300ft per second (Mach 1+)
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| Max Ceiling: | 9,840ft (3,228m)
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| Unit Cost: | $38,000 U.S.
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BACKGROUND
Originally developed to replace the U.S. Army's Redeye short-range SAM, the
FIM-92 Stinger is perhaps today's most effective short-range man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS). The basic version entered operational service in 1982.
The missile itself is 60in (152cm) in length, and is packaged in a disposible launch tube. Attached to this is
the reusable gripstock which includes a sighting scope and a battery/cooling unit (BCU), which cools the seeker head prior to launch to increase its sensitivity to infrared. To fire the Stinger,
remove the protective lens cap over the launch tube, center the target in the scope (the scope has a rather narrow field of view, so
usually a second soldier acting as a spotter aids the soldier firing the weapon in acquiring the target), and then wait for the missile's
distinctive lock-on tone before "superelevating" the weapon: this is done to ensure the missile gains sufficient altitude over the ground before
the Stinger's main motor fires (a gas cartridge ejects the FIM-92 a safe distance away from the operator prior to ignition). Gently squeeze the trigger and
the FIM-92 is on its way. The Stinger's 6.6lb (3kg) blast-fragmentation warhead is detonated by impact or proximity fuses. If the missile misses the target, it automatically
self destructs.
The FIM-92 incorporates a passive IR seeker operating in the 4.4 micron bandwidth. The missile also incorporates an Identification
Friend or Foe (IFF) transmitter to interrogate targets: if the target responds with the correct codes, it is considered friendly. If it does not respond, or responds
with incorrect codes, it's classified as unknown. The Stinger, capable of all-aspect engagements (meaning it does not have to see the target's exhaust area to lock on),
incorporates a proportional navigation system that allows it to plot and fly an intercept course.
A recent development of the FIM-92 is the Stinger-POST, or Passive Optical Seeker Technique. This improves target detection range and uses both IR and Ultraviolet (UV)
sensors to detect and track the target. Another recent improvement of the Stinger is the Stinger Reprogrammable Microprocessor, or Stinger RMP. The RMP allows better all-round performance
in environments with severe infrared countermeasures such as flares or IR jamming. Also, like the Stinger-POST, Stinger-RMP uses the IR as well as the UV wavelengths, so it can detect a target
by the "hole" or gap it makes in the background UV environment. Stinger is also employed on the famous HMMWV (High-Mobility, Multipurpose Wheeled Vehichle) in a system called Avenger. Avenger
has a two-man crew, the operator having the fire-control electronics. The Avenger's 8 Stingers are mounted in 2 reloadable Standard Vehicle-Mounted Launchers (SVMLs), each containg 4 rounds. The
SVML's are compatible with all Stinger variants (Stinger Basic, Stinger POST, Stinger RMP). The Avenger has a rate of fire of 1 Stinger every 3 to 7 seconds, and a unit cost of $617,000 U.S. Avenger deliveries began to the U.S. Army in 1990, and currently an information datalink is being developped for it.
Another project is the Bradley Stinger Vehicle, currently undergiong testing and evaluation.
An air-to-air version of the Stinger, known as the AIM-92, is in use aboard helicopters such as the Army's AH-64D Longbow Apache and the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. The AIM-92 comes in a 2-round package that includes the launch tubes as
well as the BCU.
All of this high technology has made for an extremly effective and "user-friendly" system. This was proven beginning in 1986 in Afghanistan when Mujahidin rebels used U.S.-supplied man-portable Stingers against
Soviet aircaft, destroying over 270 Russian planes over the next 3 years and achieving a 79% success rate. This is incredible considering that the rebels were operating in extremely difficult combat environments, and that they
had recieved only minimal training with the Stinger. The threat posed by the Stinger forced the Soviets to fit flare dispensers to their aicracft as well as fly at higher altitudes (over 10,000 ft) to counter the Stinger.
