Stinger
Unofficial
names/slang: n/a
Function:
To provide close-in, surface-to-air weapons for the
defense of forward combat areas, vital areas and
installations against low altitude air attacks.
Date
deployed: 1987
Contractor:
General Dynamics /Raytheon
Unit cost:
$38,000
Length:
5' - 0"
Wingspan:
3.5"
Diameter:
0' - 0" (0.00m)
Speed:
Supersonic
Weight at
launch: 34.5 lbs (launcher w/ missile)
Guidance:
Fire-and-forget passive infrared seeker
Range:
approx. 1 - 8 km
Engine:
Dual thrust
solid fuel rocket motor
Warhead:
High explosive |
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Features:
The Stinger is a man-portable, shoulder-fired guided
missile system which enables the Marine to
effectively engage low-altitude jet,
propeller-driven and helicopter aircraft. Developed
by the United States Army Missile Command, the
Stinger was the successor to the Redeye Weapon
System. The system is a "fire-and-forget"
weapon employing a passive infrared seeker and
proportional navigation system. Stinger also is
designed for the threat beyond the 1990s, with an
all-aspect engagement capability, and IFF
(Identification-Friend-or-Foe), improved range and
maneuverability, and significant countermeasures
immunity. The missile, packaged within its
disposable launch tube, is delivered as a certified
round, requiring no field testing or direct support
maintenance. A separable, reusable gripstock is
attached to the round prior to use and may be used
again. STINGER will also be employed by the
Pedestal-Mounted Stinger Air Defense Vehicle and the
Light Armored Vehicle, Air Defense Variant (LAV-AD)
duri ng the 1990s.
Background: During the 1960s the Marine
Corps introduced its first lightweight shoulder
fired surface-to-air missile, the Redeye. During
June 1966 the Redeye school was activated at Marine
Corps Base, 29 Palms California. By Sept. 1966, a
Redeye platoon was placed in each stateside Marine
division. This gave Marine commanders a viable
air-defense capability that could be deployed to any
area of the battlefield. The Redeye missile served
throughout the 1970's before giving way to the more
technologically advanced Stinger missile in 1982.
The Stingers "all aspect" engagement
capability was a major improvement over the Redeye.
In 1989 an improved Stinger, equipped with a
reprogrammable microprocessor (RPM), was fielded by
the Marine Corps. The RPM is a modular enhancement
which allows the Stinger to engage and destroy more
sophisticated air threats.
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