Slant firing range of the Stinger MANPADS. Man-portable Anti-Aircraft Missile System "Stinger"
11.03.2015, 13:32
Comparative characteristics portable anti-aircraft missile systems in the world.
On March 11, 1981, a portable anti-aircraft missile system"Igla-1". It replaced the Strela MANPADS, making it possible to hit enemy aircraft with greater accuracy in all angles of their movement. The Americans had an analogue in the same year. French and British designers have achieved significant success in this area.
Background
The idea of hitting air targets not with anti-aircraft artillery fire, but with missiles appeared back in 1917 in Great Britain. However, it was impossible to implement it due to the weakness of technology. In the mid-30s, S.P. Korolev became interested in the problem. But even his work did not go beyond laboratory tests of missiles guided by a searchlight beam.
The first anti-aircraft missile system, the S-25, was made in the Soviet Union in 1955. An analogue appeared in the USA three years later. But these were complex rocket launchers transported on tractors, the deployment and movement of which required considerable time. In field conditions on very rough terrain, their use was impossible.
In connection with this, the designers began to create portable complexes that could be controlled by one person. True, such weapons already existed. At the end of World War II in Germany, and in the 60s in the USSR, anti-aircraft grenade launchers were created, which did not go into production. These were multi-barreled (up to 8 barrels) portable launchers that fired in one gulp. However, their effectiveness was low due to the fact that the fired projectiles did not have any target guidance system.
The need for MANPADS arose in connection with the increasing role of attack aircraft in military operations. Also, one of the most important goals of creating MANPADS was to supply them to irregular armies for partisan groups. Both the USSR and the USA were interested in this, since they provided assistance to non-governmental groups in all parts of the world. The Soviet Union supported the so-called liberation movements of a socialist orientation, the United States supported the rebels who fought the government troops of countries where the socialist idea was already beginning to take root.
The British made the first MANPADS in 1966. However, they chose an ineffective method of guiding Blowpipe missiles - radio command. And although this complex was produced until 1993, it was not popular among the partisans.
The first sufficiently effective MANPADS "Strela" appeared in the USSR in 1967. His missile used a thermal homing head. “Strela” performed well during the Vietnam War - with its help, partisans shot down more than 200 American helicopters and aircraft, including supersonic ones. In 1968, the Americans also had a similar complex - Redeye. It was based on the same principles and had similar parameters. However, arming the Afghan Mujahideen with it did not produce tangible results, since they were already flying in the Afghan skies soviet planes new generation. And only the appearance of the Stingers became sensitive for Soviet aviation.
The first MANPADS had certain problems, in particular regarding target designation, which were solved in the next generation complexes.
"Strela" is replaced by "Needle"
The Igla MANPADS, developed at the Kolomna Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (chief designer S.P. Nepobedimy) and put into service on March 11, 1981, is still in use today in three modifications. It is used in the armies of 35 countries, including not only our former fellow travelers on the socialist path, but also, for example, South Korea, Brazil, and Pakistan.
The main differences between the “Igla” and the “Strela” are the presence of a “friend or foe” interrogator, a more advanced method of guiding and controlling the missile, and a greater power of the warhead. An electronic tablet was also introduced into the complex, on which, based on incoming information from the division’s air defense systems, up to four targets present in a 25x25 km square were displayed.
Additional striking power was obtained due to the fact that in the new missile, at the moment of hitting the target, not only the warhead, but also the unspent fuel of the main engine was detonated.
If the first modification of the Strela could hit targets only on catch-up courses, then this drawback was eliminated by cooling the homing head with liquid nitrogen. This made it possible to increase the sensitivity of the infrared radiation receiver and obtain more contrasting target visibility. Thanks to this technical solution, it became possible to hit targets from all angles, including those flying towards them.
The use of MANPADS in Vietnam made it possible to push low-flying attack aircraft to medium altitudes, where they were dealt with by the SAM-75 and anti-aircraft artillery.
However, by the end of the 70s, the use of false thermal targets by aircraft - fired squibs captured by IR sensors - significantly reduced the effectiveness of the Strela. In Igla, this problem was solved through a set of technical measures. These include increasing the sensitivity of the homing head (GOS) and the use of a two-channel system in it. Also, a logical block for identifying true targets against the background of interference has been introduced into the seeker.
“Igla” has another significant advantage. Previous generation missiles were precisely aimed at the most powerful heat source, that is, the aircraft engine nozzle. However, this part of the aircraft is not too vulnerable due to the use of particularly durable materials. In the Igla missile defense system, aiming occurs with a shift - the missile hits not the nozzle, but the least protected areas of the aircraft.
Thanks to the new qualities, Igla is capable of hitting not only supersonic aircraft, but also cruise missiles.
Since 1981, MANPADS have been periodically modernized. Now they are joining the army the latest complexes Igla-S, put into service in 2002.
American, French and British complexes
The American new generation MANPADS “Stinger” also appeared in 1981. And two years later he began to be actively used by dushmans during Afghan war. At the same time, it is difficult to talk about real statistics on the destruction of targets using it. In total, about 170 Soviet planes and helicopters were shot down. However, the Mujahideen equally used not only American portable weapons, but also Soviet Strela-2 complexes.
MANPADS "Stinger"
The first Stingers and Needles had approximately the same parameters. The same can be said about latest models. However, there are significant differences regarding the flight dynamics, the seeker, and the detonation mechanism. Russian missiles are equipped with a “vortex generator” - an induction system that is triggered when flying near a metal target. This system more effective than infrared, laser or radio fuses on foreign MANPADS.
The Igla has a dual-mode propulsion engine, while the Stinger has a single-mode propulsion engine, so the Russian missile has a higher average speed (although the maximum is lower) and a flight range. But at the same time, the Stinger’s seeker operates not only in the infrared, but also in the ultraviolet range.
MANPADS "Mistral"
The French Mistral MANPADS, which appeared in 1988, has an original seeker. She was simply taken from an air-to-air missile and driven into the “pipe”. This solution allows a mosaic-type infrared seeker to capture fighters from the front hemisphere at a range of 6-7 km. The launcher is equipped with a night vision device and a radio sight.
In 1997, the Starstrake MANPADS was adopted in Great Britain. This is a very expensive weapon, significantly different from traditional designs. Firstly, a module with three missiles flies out of the “pipe”. It is equipped with four semi-active laser seekers - one common and one for each detachable warhead. Separation occurs at a distance of 3 km to the target, when the heads capture it. The firing range reaches 7 km. Moreover, this range is applicable even for helicopters with an ECU (a device that reduces the exhaust temperature). For thermal seekers, in this case this distance does not exceed 2 km. And another one most important feature– the warheads are kinetic fragmentation warheads, that is, they do not have explosives.
Performance characteristics of MANPADS "Igla-S", "Stinger", "Mistral", "Starstrake"
Firing range: 6000 km – 4500 m – 6000 m – 7000 m
Height of targets hit: 3500 m – 3500 m – 3000 m – 1000 m
Target speed (oncoming course/catching course): 400 m/s / 320 m/s – n/a – n/a – n/a
Maximum rocket speed: 570 m/s – 700 m/s – 860 m/s – 1300 m/s
Rocket weight: 11.7 kg – 10.1 kg – 17 kg – 14 kg
Warhead weight: 2.5 kg – 2.3 kg – 3 kg – 0.9 kg
Rocket length: 1630 mm – 1500 mm – 1800 mm – 1390 mm
Rocket diameter: 72 mm – 70 mm – 90 mm – 130 mm
GOS: IR - IR and UV - IR - laser.
News Media2
Mediametrics.ru
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The Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) is designed to defeat both on-coming and catch-up aircraft, including supersonic ones, and helicopters flying at low and extremely low altitudes. This complex, created by General Dynamics, is the most widespread means of combating air targets in service with foreign armies.
The Stinger MANPADS are in service with a number of countries, including Western European partners of the United States in NATO (Greece, Denmark, Italy, Turkey, Germany), as well as Israel, South Korea and Japan.
Three modifications were developed: “Stinger” (basic), “Stinger”-POST (Passive Optical Seeking Technology) and “Stinger”-RMP (Reprogrammable Microprocessor). They have the same composition of means, as well as the values of the firing range and height of hitting the target, differing only in the homing heads (HSH) used on the FIM-92 anti-aircraft missiles modifications A, B and C, corresponding to the three modifications of MANPADS listed above. Currently, Raytheon produces modifications FIM-92D, FIM-92E Block I and FIM-92E Block II.
The development of the "Stinger" complex was preceded by work under the ASDP (Advanced Seeker Development Program) program, which began in the mid-60s, shortly before the deployment of serial production of the "Red Eye" MANPADS and aimed at theoretical development and experimental confirmation of the feasibility of the concept of the complex and "Red Eye-2" with a missile on which an all-aspect infrared seeker was to be used. The successful implementation of the ASDP program allowed the US Department of Defense to begin in 1972 funding the development of a promising MANPADS, called "Stinger" ("Stinging Insect"). This development, despite the difficulties encountered during its implementation, was completed by 1977, and General Dynamics began production of the first batch of samples, which were tested during 1979-1980.
Compound
The test results of the Stinger MANPADS with the FIM-92A missile equipped with an IR seeker (wavelength range 4.1-4.4 µm), which confirmed its ability to hit targets on collision courses, allowed the Ministry of Defense to make a decision on serial production and supply of the complex from 1981 ground forces USA in Europe. However, the number of MANPADS of this modification, provided for in the initial production program, was significantly reduced due to the successes achieved in the development of the GSH POST, which began in 1977 and by that time was at its final stage.
The POST dual-band seeker, used on the FIM-92B missile defense system, operates in the IR and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength ranges. Unlike the IR seeker of the FIM-92A missile, where information about the position of the target relative to its optical axis is extracted from a signal modulated by a rotating raster, it uses a rasterless target coordinator. Its IR and UV radiation detectors, operating in the same circuit with two digital microprocessors, allow for socket-shaped scanning, which provides, firstly, high target selection capabilities in conditions of background interference, and secondly, protection from IR range countermeasures.
Production of the FIM-92B missile defense system with the POST seeker began in 1983, however, due to the fact that in 1985 General Dynamics began creating the FIM-92C missile defense system, the production rate was reduced compared to that previously envisaged. The new rocket, the development of which was completed in 1987, uses the POST-RMP homing head with a reprogrammable microprocessor, which provides the ability to adapt the characteristics of the guidance system to the target and jamming environment by selecting the appropriate programs. Replaceable memory blocks in which standard programs are stored are installed in the housing of the trigger mechanism of the Stinger-RMP MANPADS. The latest improvements to the Stinger-RMP MANPADS were carried out in terms of equipping the FIM-92C missile with a ring laser gyroscope, a lithium battery, and an improved roll angular velocity sensor.
MANPADS "Stinger" of all modifications consists of the following main elements:
- SAM in a transport and launch container (TPK),
- optical sight for visual detection and tracking of a target, as well as approximate determination of the range to it,
- trigger mechanism,
- power supply and cooling unit with an electric battery and a container with liquid argon,
- "friend or foe" identification equipment AN/PPX-1 (the electronic unit is worn on the anti-aircraft gunner's waist belt).
The FIM-92E Block I missiles are equipped with a dual-band jamming-proof homing head (HSH) of the rosette type, operating in the IR and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength ranges, a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 3 kg and have a flight range of up to 8 km at a speed of M = 2.2. The FIM-92E Block II missile is equipped with an all-angle thermal imaging seeker located in the focal plane optical system matrix of IR detectors.
The rocket is made according to the canard aerodynamic design. In the bow there are four aerodynamic surfaces, two of which are rudders, and the other two remain stationary relative to the missile defense body. To control using one pair of aerodynamic rudders, the rocket rotates around its longitudinal axis, and control signals received by the rudders are consistent with its movement relative to this axis. The rocket acquires initial rotation due to the inclined arrangement of the launch accelerator nozzles relative to the body. To maintain the rotation of the missile in flight, the planes of the tail stabilizer, which, like the rudders, open when the missile exits the TPK, are installed at a certain angle to the body. Control using one pair of rudders made it possible to achieve a significant reduction in the mass and cost of flight control equipment.
The solid-fuel dual-mode propulsion engine "Atlantic Research Mk27" ensures acceleration of the rocket to a speed corresponding to the Mach number = 2.2, and maintaining a relatively high speed throughout its flight to the target. This engine is switched on after the launch accelerator is separated and the rocket is removed to a safe distance for the gunner-operator (about 8 m).
The combat equipment of the missile defense system weighing about 3 kg consists of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, an impact fuse and a safety-actuating mechanism that ensures the removal of the fuse safety stages and issuing a command to self-destruct the missile in case of a miss.
The missile defense system is housed in a sealed cylindrical fiberglass TPK filled with inert gas. Both ends of the container are closed with lids that collapse during startup. The front one is made of material that transmits IR and UV radiation, which allows the seeker to capture the target without breaking the seal. The tightness of the container and the fairly high reliability of the missile defense equipment ensure that missiles can be stored by troops without maintenance for ten years.
The launch mechanism, with the help of which the rocket is prepared for launch and the launch is carried out, is attached to the TPC using special locks. The electric battery of the power supply and cooling unit (this unit is installed in the trigger housing in preparation for firing) is connected through a plug connector to the on-board network of the rocket, and the container with liquid argon is connected through a fitting to the main line of the cooling system. On the lower surface of the trigger mechanism there is a plug connector for connecting the electronic unit of the “friend or foe” identification equipment, and on the handle there is a trigger with one neutral and two working positions. When you press the trigger and move it to the first operating position, the power supply and cooling unit is activated, as a result of which electricity from the battery (voltage 20 volts, operating time is at least 45 seconds) and liquid argon enters on board the rocket, providing cooling installation of GSH detectors, promotion gyroscope and performing other operations related to preparing missile defense systems for launch. With further pressure on the trigger and its occupation of the second working position, the on-board electric battery is activated, capable of powering the electronic equipment of the rocket for 19 seconds, and the igniter of the missile launching engine is activated.
During combat operations, data on targets comes from an external detection and target designation system or from the crew number conducting airspace surveillance. After detecting a target, the operator-gunner places the MANPADS on his shoulder and points it at the selected target. When the missile seeker captures it and begins to accompany it, a sound signal is turned on and the vibration device of the optical sight, to which the shooter presses his cheek, warns of the target being captured. Then pressing the button will release the gyroscope. Before launch, the operator enters the required lead angles. With his index finger he presses the trigger guard, and the on-board battery begins to work. Its return to normal mode ensures the activation of a cartridge with compressed gas, which discards the tear-off plug, turning off the power from the power supply and cooling unit and turning on the squib for starting the starting engine.
The Stinger missile is used as a weapon in a number of anti-aircraft systems short-range ("Avenger", "Aspic", etc.). A lightweight launcher "Stinger Dual Mount" has also been developed (see photo, ,
The Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) is designed to destroy both aircraft, including supersonic ones, and helicopters flying at low and extremely low altitudes on both catch-up and oncoming courses. This complex, the creation of which by General Dynamics made, according to foreign experts, a significant contribution to the development of US military air defense, is the most mass media combating air targets in service with foreign armies.
To date, three modifications have been developed: "Stinger"(basic), "Stinger-POST" (POST - Passive Optical Seeker Technology) And "Stinger-RMP" (RMP - Reprogrammable Micro Processor). They have the same composition of weapons, as well as the values of the firing range (0.5 km minimum and 5.5 km maximum when firing after) and target engagement height (3.5 km maximum), differing only in the homing heads (GOS) used on anti-aircraft guns. guided missiles FIM-92 modifications A, B and C, corresponding to the three modifications of MANPADS listed above.
The development of the Stinger complex was preceded by work under the ASDP program ( ASDP - Advanced Seeker Development Program), which began in the mid-60s, shortly before the deployment of serial production of the Red Eye MANPADS, and aimed at theoretical development and experimental confirmation of the feasibility of the concept of the Red Eye-2 complex with a missile on which all-angle infrared was to be used GOS. The successful implementation of the ASDP program, as follows from Western press publications, allowed the US Department of Defense in 1972 to begin financing the development of a promising MANPADS, which received the name "Stinger" ("Stinging Insect"). This development, despite the difficulties encountered during its implementation, was completed by 1978, and General Dynamics began production of the first batch of samples, tests of which were carried out during 1979-1980.
The test results of the Stinger MANPADS with the FIM-92A missile equipped with an infrared seeker (wavelength range 4.1-4.4 microns), which confirmed its ability to hit targets on collision courses, allowed the leadership of the Ministry of Defense to make a decision on serial production and supplies of the complex to US ground forces in Europe since 1981. However, the number of MANPADS of this modification, provided for in the original production program, was significantly reduced due to the successes achieved in the development of the GOS POST, which began in 1977 and by that time was at its final stage.
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Dual-band seeker POST used on missile defense systems FIM-92B, operates in the IR and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength ranges. Unlike the IR seeker of the FIM-92A missile, where information about the position of the target relative to its optical axis is extracted from a signal modulated by a rotating raster, it uses a be-raster target coordinator. Its IR and UV radiation detectors, operating in the same circuit with two digital microprocessors, allow rosette-shaped scanning, which, judging by the materials of the foreign military press, provides, firstly, high target selection capabilities in conditions of background interference, and secondly, protection from IR countermeasures.
The production of the FIM-92B missile defense system with the POST seeker began in 1983, however, due to the fact that in 1985 the General Dynamics company began creating missile defense systems FIM-92C, the rate of release was reduced compared to previously envisaged. The new missile, the development of which was completed in 1987, uses the POST-RMP seeker with a reprogrammable microprocessor, which provides the ability to adapt the characteristics of the guidance system to the target and jamming environment by selecting appropriate programs. Replaceable memory blocks in which standard programs are stored are installed in the housing of the trigger mechanism of the Stinger-RMP MANPADS.
The foreign press, reporting the creation of the Stinger-RMP MANPADS as a major achievement in the use of the latest American technology in the military field, indicates that by 1987, about 16 thousand basic modification MANPADS and 560 Stinger-POST complexes were produced in the United States ", The General Dynamics company, which has already produced about 25 thousand Stinger-RMP MANPADS, received a contract worth $ 695 million for the production of 20 thousand such complexes, although, as noted, the specified number is not full meets the needs of the US military to the extent possible.
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The Stinger MANPADS of all modifications consists of the following main elements:
- SAM in a transport and launch container (TPK),
- optical sight for visual detection and tracking of an air target, as well as approximate determination of the range to it,
- trigger mechanism,
- power supply and cooling unit with an electric battery and a container with liquid argon,
- “friend or foe” identification equipment AN/PPX-1.
The latter's electronic unit is worn on the anti-aircraft gunner's waist belt. The mass of the complex in combat position is 15.7 kg.
The rocket is made according to the canard aerodynamic design and has a launch mass of 10.1 kg. In the bow there are four aerodynamic surfaces, two of which are rudders, and the other two remain stationary relative to the missile defense body. To control using one pair of aerodynamic rudders, the rocket rotates around its longitudinal axis, and control signals received by the rudders are consistent with its movement relative to this axis. The rocket acquires its initial rotation due to the inclined location of the launch accelerator nozzles relative to the body. To maintain the rotation of the missile in flight, the planes of the tail stabilizer, which, like the rudders, open when the missile exits the TPK, are installed at a certain angle to its body. Control using one pair of rudders made it possible to achieve a significant reduction in the weight and cost of flight control equipment.
A solid-fuel dual-mode propulsion engine ensures acceleration of the rocket to a speed corresponding to the Mach number = 2.2 and maintaining a relatively high speed throughout its flight to the target. This engine is turned on after the launch accelerator is separated and the missile is removed from the firing position to a safe distance for the gunner-operator (about 8 m).
The combat equipment of the missile defense system, weighing about 3 kg, consists of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, an impact fuse and a safety-actuating mechanism that ensures the removal of the fuse safety stages and issuing a command to self-destruct the missile in case of a miss.
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The missile defense system is housed in a sealed cylindrical fiberglass TPK filled with inert gas. Both ends of the container are closed with lids that collapse during startup. The front one is made of material that transmits IR and UV radiation, which allows the seeker to capture a target without breaking the seal. The tightness of the container and the sufficiently high reliability of the missile defense equipment ensure that missiles are stored by troops without maintenance or inspection for ten years.
The launch mechanism, with the help of which the rocket is prepared for launch and the launch is carried out, is attached to the TPK using special locks. The electric battery of the power supply and cooling unit (this unit is installed in the housing of the starting mechanism in preparation for firing) is connected to the on-board network of the rocket through a plug connector, and the container with liquid argon is connected to the cooling system line through a fitting. On the lower surface of the trigger mechanism there is a plug connector for connecting the electronic unit of the “friend or foe” identification equipment, and on the handle there is a trigger with one neutral and two operating positions. When you press the trigger and move it to the first operating position, the power supply and cooling unit is activated, as a result of which electricity from the battery (voltage 20 V, operating time of at least 45 s) and liquid argon enter on board the rocket, providing cooling for the seeker detectors, spinning up the gyroscope and performing other operations related to preparing the missile defense system for launch. With further pressure on the trigger and its occupation of the second operating position, the on-board electric battery is activated, capable of powering the electronic equipment of the rocket for 19 s, and the igniter of the missile launching engine is activated.
During combat operations, data on targets comes from an external detection and target designation system or from the crew number conducting airspace surveillance. After detecting a target, the shooter-operator places the MANPADS on his shoulder and points it at the selected target. When the missile seeker captures it and begins to accompany it, the sound signal and vibration device turn on optical sight, to which the shooter presses his cheek, warns of target acquisition. Then pressing the button will release the gyroscope. Before launch, the operator enters the required lead angles. With his index finger he presses the trigger guard, and the on-board battery begins to work. When it returns to normal mode, the cartridge with compressed gas is activated, which discards the tear-off plug, turning off the power from the power supply and cooling unit and turning on the squib to start the starting engine.
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| Combat crew of the Stinger MANPADS |
The Stinger MANPADS are in service with a number of countries, including Western European partners of the United States in NATO (Greece, Denmark, Italy, Turkey, Germany), as well as Israel, South Korea and Japan. Since the fall of 1986, the complex has been used by the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. Since the early 1990s, preparations have been underway for the production of Stinger MANPADS in Europe. Companies from Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands and Greece will take part in it (the parent company is Dornier). The governments of these countries, as reported in the foreign press, have committed themselves to allocate 36, 40, 15 and 9 percent, respectively. appropriations necessary to implement the program. It is expected that after the first stage of production (which will begin in 1992), 4800, 4500 and 1700 Stinger MANPADS will be supplied to Germany, Turkey and the Netherlands.
Information sources
A. Tolin "AMERICAN MANPADS "STINGER". Foreign Military Review No. 1, 1991
Man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) are a fairly young type of weapon. MANPADS are difficult to develop and manufacture, so there are not many models and they are produced only in some countries. However, among them there was (and still is) an installation that for a long time was the most famous representative of the class.
Just as “Bazooka” for some time became the collective name for all anti-tank grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft missiles were associated specifically with the “Stinger”. Now, of course, the Stinger is no longer the most famous and effective system - but it remains one of the most common models.
History of creation
Development of anti-aircraft rocket launcher, which could be used by infantrymen, began in the USA back in the 50s. The result of the work was the FIM-43 Red Eye MANPADS. The first shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missile took place in 1961. Red Eye proved the viability of the idea of man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems, but its characteristics were far from impressive.
The low sensitivity of the infrared homing head did not allow firing at targets on a collision course. Thermal traps effectively diverted the “attention” of the rocket. And the low maneuverability allowed the plane to simply dodge. Attempts to increase the effectiveness of MANPADS led to the fact that the Red Eye of the third modification was seriously different from the previous series, and only the name was common with the prototype.
Work on a new MANPADS, at that time known as Red Eye 2, began in 1969.
The project from General Dynamics won the competition. In 1971, another competition was held to select the design of the homing head. Well, in 1972, General Dynamics received a contract for further improvement of MANPADS, which was now given the name “Stinger”.
Unexpectedly, this approach was met with hostility by Congress, which demanded that a competitive selection be held once again. The requirements were met, and at the end of the year a large-scale competition was held, in which not only American, but also European developments took part.
However, the Stinger and the Philco project, which remained in history as the “alternative Stinger,” reached the finals. But more on that later. The development of the Stinger took another 4 years. In 1978, mass production was launched, and since 1981, MANPADS began to enter service with the troops.
Design
The anti-aircraft guided missile used in the Stinger MANPADS has a canard aerodynamic design - the horizontal tail is located in front of the main planes. In the nose of the rocket there are 2 rudders and 2 fixed aerodynamic surfaces. The rocket is stabilized by rotation - the tail stabilizers installed at an angle help maintain it in flight. The launch accelerator, whose nozzles are located obliquely, helps the rocket acquire rotation.
The sustainer engine of the Stinger rocket is solid fuel and is turned on after the rocket leaves the launch tube and is removed to a safe distance.
Warhead– fragmentation-beam, contains 3 kg of explosive. The fuse, however, is a contact fuse, requiring a direct hit on the target. If the missile misses, the self-destruct mechanism is triggered. The homing head of the MANPADS missiles of the first modification FIM-92A is all-aspect infrared.
The missile is stored in a transport and launch container in the form of a sealed plastic tube. The inside of the container-pipe is filled with inert gas, and the rocket can remain in it without requiring maintenance for up to 10 years.
Before use, a trigger mechanism is attached to the container. A block is inserted into it, which includes an electric battery and a container containing liquid argon. Also, an antenna of the “friend or foe” system is attached to the trigger mechanism. Having found a target, the missileman aims the MANPADS at it using an optical sight and presses the trigger. After this, the battery supplies electricity to the on-board network of the rocket, and argon cools the homing head.
The missile operator is notified of the target being captured by a sound signal and vibration of the device built into the sight. After this, you should press the trigger again - the on-board battery of the rocket is turned on, the cartridge with compressed air disconnects the power supply, and the squib launches the starting accelerator. The Stinger launch tube is disposable, and it is impossible to “reload” it with a new missile.
For use at night, the AN/PVS-4 night sight was adapted to MANPADS.
Equipped with a third-generation electro-optical converter, it allows you to identify targets at a distance of 7 km and has a magnification of 2.26 times. A thermal imaging sight designed for use with the Stinger is currently being produced in Turkey.
Upgrades and modifications
The Stinger MANPADS of the second model - FIM-92B - received an improved homing head. In addition to the infrared radiation receiver, the GPS had a second one operating in the ultraviolet spectrum. Due to this, the resistance to interference has increased, both to “natural” and to thermal traps (which are not perceived in the UV range).
In addition, in the last section of approach to the target, the missile begins to aim not at the thermal radiation of the engines, but at the contour of the aircraft in general. The FIM-92B MANPADS has been produced since 1982. It is also known as “Stinger POST” - “Passive Optical Seeker Technique” (“passive optical seeker”).
The FIM-92C complex, also known as “Stinger RPM” - “Reprogrammable Microprocessor”, was produced in the second half of the 80s. It differed from previous versions, as is clear from the index, in the missile guidance system processor with the ability to be reprogrammed. Thus, when new enemy aircraft appear, it is enough to enter their parameters into the missile’s memory.
The FIM-92D modification differed slightly from the previous version - during its creation, the only goal was to increase the Stinger’s resistance to interference.
The FIM-92E MANPADS was developed to increase the effectiveness of hitting small maneuverable targets - cruise missiles, drones and light helicopters.
It began entering service with the troops in 1995, and soon replaced the Stingers of previous modifications. Complexes of the –D series, modified to the standard of the –E series, received the designation FIM-92H.
Currently in production is a MANPADS model with the index FIM-92E, the detailed characteristics of which have not been disclosed. "Stingers" of the E and H series have been upgraded to the new FIM-92J standard since the mid-2010s. Changes include a proximity fuse that does not require a direct hit, and new engine.
In addition to the portable installation, there is a DMS - a turret on which 2 launch containers are installed. The turret has built-in power supply and cooling systems for the missile seeker; it can receive target data from external sources.
To prepare the calculations, the M134 training launcher was developed. It fires a training rocket without a warhead or propulsion engine. Instead of a real interrogator of the “friend or foe” system, the training installation uses its simulator, which generates random “responses”.
Instead of a power supply and cooling, a special battery is used, the capacity of which is sufficient for 16 training launches. In addition to the M134, to familiarize yourself with the material part, a mass-dimensional mockup of the Stinger M60 is being produced.
The AIM-92 air-to-air missile was also created on the basis of the Stinger MANPADS.
Helicopters and drones are armed with it for self-defense against air targets. Based on the “aerial Stinger”, they also developed a lightweight anti-radar missile ADSM, which should allow helicopters to independently suppress air defense radars.
War vehicles
The self-propelled gun is armed with Stingers. anti-aircraft gun"Avenger". It is a turret mounted on the chassis of an army all-terrain vehicle HMMWV. The turret has 2 launch containers with four FIM-92 missiles in each. To search for a target, the ZSU has an infrared viewing system (thermal imager) and a laser range finder, and can receive target designation data from air defense radars.
Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with a 12.7 mm Browning machine gun in an aviation modification, which has a rate of fire of 1200 rounds per minute. For the missiles used on the Avenger, fuses were developed that were triggered at a given range according to laser rangefinder data.
Based on the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, " fighting machine anti-aircraft gunners M6 Linebacker. It differed in that instead of a container with anti-tank missiles TOW was armed with a mount with 4 FIM-92. In addition, the Linebacker’s fighting compartment carried a crew of soldiers armed with MANPADS. Since 2005, all M6s produced have been converted into standard infantry fighting vehicles.
Alternative "Stinger"
The MANPADS, which was developed as an alternative to the FIM-92, was distinguished by its guidance system. Suspicions that the sensitivity and noise immunity of infrared homing heads could not be increased in the near future led to the obvious conclusion - to use a different guidance principle.
Guiding the laser beam seemed to be the most promising.
However, he also had fundamental shortcomings. The missile was not homing - the gunner had to keep the target in the laser beam until it was hit and could not immediately leave the position.
It was proposed to put both MANPADS into production, making the Stinger, which does not require rocket launcher skills, a weapon for sabotage detachments, and give the “alternative” to line infantry. Test launches of combat missiles were carried out in 1976, and the targets were hit both times. However, in 1977, the “alternative Stinger” project was closed.
Combat use
The first use of the Stinger MANPADS occurred in 1982. During the Falkland Islands conflict, the British Special Forces (SAS) were secretly allocated 6 missiles. On May 21, with the help of the complex, the light Argentine attack aircraft Pukara was shot down, and on May 30, they managed to hit the Puma transport helicopter. This marked the end of the Stingers' participation in that war.
In 1985, Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq said he could not support the Afghan mujahideen without provoking Soviet troops to invade, without greater US involvement. Zia-ul-Haq was close to Congressman Charlie Wilson - with his help, a decision was made to supply modern MANPADS to the Afghans.
Man-portable anti-aircraft missile systems have been used by the Mujahideen before.
These were obsolete American FIM-43 "Red Eye", British "Blowpipe", and Chinese People's Republic willingly supplied its copies of the Soviet “Strel” (however, Chinese support for the Mujahideen is remembered much less often).
They did not have a significant influence on the course of the war, and were considered something like “other dangers.” And the “Blowpipe” missiles had a powerful charge and were not distracted from the target by interference – but they required highly trained gunners.
With the advent of FIM-92, the picture changed. Already in September 1986, 3 attack helicopters were shot down using the new MANPADS; the following year, 3 Su-25 attack aircraft were destroyed in 2 weeks of using the Stingers. At the same time, it turned out that the USSR, itself a pioneer and leader in the development of MANPADS, was not ready for such counteraction.
Systems for shielding exhaust from helicopter turbines, for example, had to be constructed locally. The only effective means was the Lipa jamming station. However, in 1987, 19 helicopters were shot down by Stingers, and 7 more in 1988. It is worth clarifying that at the beginning of the war, helicopters most often suffered losses from small arms and were less well protected.
There is no doubt that the use of Stinger MANPADS forced Soviet aviation to dramatically change tactics and reduced its effectiveness.
But the assessment of their contribution to accelerating the withdrawal of troops is assessed differently - up to completely opposite points of view. Deliveries of MANPADS ended in 1988. After the withdrawal of Soviet troops, the CIA tried to find and buy the remaining missiles. Some of them “surfaced” in Iran and North Korea.
It is worth remembering, however, that if the shelf life of the rocket is 10 years, then the power supply and cooling unit can be stored for a maximum of 5 years. In Iran (as well as in North Korea), according to rumors, the Stingers have been put into service and are trying to be kept in combat readiness.
While the war was going on in Afghanistan, 310 copies of the FIM-92 were sent to Angola, to the UNITA movement. After the end of hostilities, the CIA again tried to buy back unused MANPADS. During the Libyan invasion of Chad, the Stingers were used by Chadian forces and supporting French troops. Anti-aircraft missiles shot down 2 Libyan fighters and a Hercules transport plane.
After the collapse Soviet Union some of the Stingers "held" by the Afghans "infiltrated" into his former territories. During civil war In Tajikistan, a Russian Su-24 bomber was shot down by such a MANPADS. It is believed that some Russian planes during Chechen war were shot down by Stingers. This is indirectly confirmed by photographs of militants with launchers, but their origin remains unknown, as does whether the MANPADS were operational.
FIM-92 also appeared in the former Yugoslavia. Moreover, with its help, Bosnian Muslims destroyed an Italian transport plane carrying humanitarian aid just for Bosnian Muslims. In the late 90s, Stingers were spotted in Sri Lanka in the hands of the Tamil Tigers. They shot down a government Mi-24 helicopter.
Finally, during their own invasion of Afghanistan, the Americans also encountered the Stingers. In 2012, a Chinook helicopter was shot down by just such a missile. Moreover, the investigation showed that these are not remnants of supplies from the 80s, but complexes of the latest modifications.
Presumably, the batch of MANPADS sold to Qatar on the initiative of then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton left Qatar not for Libya, but for the Taliban.
The presence of FIM-92 MANPADS has also been noticed in Syria. It is believed that Türkiye supplies anti-government groups with them.
An incident worthy of mention is that in 2003, an Iraqi MiG-25 interceptor encountered an MQ-1 drone armed with AIM-82 missiles. Instead of evading, the UAV launched one of the missiles at the MiG.
The Stinger's homing head captured one of the Iraqi missiles launched in response, and the MiG emerged victorious from the first ever air battle with a drone.
Performance characteristics
The Stinger can be compared with analogues such as the Soviet (later Russian) and British Starstreak, developed in the late 80s.
| 9K38 Igla | Starstreak HVM | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total weight, kg | 42 | 39 | 20 |
| Rocket mass, kg | 10 | 10 | 14 |
| Weight of warhead, kg | 3 | 1,1 | - |
| Launch range, km | 4,5 | 5,2 | 7 |
| Average rocket speed, km/h | 2574 | 2092 | 4345 |
The Igla differed from the Stinger in many design solutions. Its warhead contains a smaller charge - but the rocket was originally equipped with a proximity fuse, and therefore there was no need for a direct hit. The American missile has a higher speed - but is also somewhat inferior in range.
The improvement of the FIM-92 homing heads occurred due to the complexity of its memory and the possibility of reprogramming - the Igla’s ability to recognize false targets was improved.
A serious difference was the ability to use the Eagle as a battery, controlled using an electronic tablet.
The Americans did not envisage such an opportunity. And in terms of the effectiveness of combat use, the Igla can easily compete with the Stinger - inferior in some ways, superior in others.
The British Starstreak MANPADS differs significantly from both analogues presented for comparison. The speed of the rocket, exceeding Mach 3, is immediately noticeable. The warhead is also not the same as “everyone else” - instead of hitting a target with fragments or a bunch of steel rods, Starstreak uses 3 independent submunitions that penetrate the target due to the tungsten body, where their warhead is detonated.
Submunitions are guided by a laser beam, so it’s easy to draw a parallel with the “alternative Stinger”. And to conclude that the high speed of the rocket increases the probability of defeat, the need for the rocket operator to “illuminate” the target before destruction remains an unsurmounted drawback. Starstreak has never been used in battle and is rarely used. It is impossible to draw conclusions about whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
In the media
The Stinger MANPADS appears infrequently on movie screens - despite the fact that the complex has existed for more than 40 years, it has appeared in about a dozen films. And it's not even a real Stinger. The prop is usually a spent launch tube (legally considered to be something like a spent shell casing) to which a fake trigger is attached.
The Stinger plays a rather prominent role in the film “Charlie Wilson’s War,” which tells exactly how the aforementioned Congressman Wilson “punched through” arms supplies to Afghanistan.
IN computer games FIM-92 usually appear when there is an opportunity to fight aircraft (this is usually provided by multiplayer games).
At the same time, game mechanics often ignore the minimum launch range, and the missile locks onto the target immediately after leaving the launch tube. In addition, both in films and in games, MANPADS are often credited with having some kind of computerized sighting system, which does not correspond to reality.
The Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missile system was not the best in its class, and it appeared at a time when the capabilities of MANPADS were already understood.
The large-scale modernization program for the FIM-92 was closed in 2007, so its life cycle should be close to the end. But it has already firmly written its name into history - both as a sign of the capabilities of man-portable anti-aircraft missiles, and as a symbol of the fact that world powers need to think better about which regimes to support.
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The Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft missile system (MANPADS) is designed to defeat both on-coming and catch-up aircraft, including supersonic ones, and helicopters flying at low and extremely low altitudes. This complex, created by General Dynamics, is the most widespread means of combating air targets in service with foreign armies.
The Stinger MANPADS are in service with a number of countries, including Western European partners of the United States in NATO (Greece, Denmark, Italy, Turkey, Germany), as well as Israel, South Korea and Japan.
To date, three modifications have been developed: “Stinger” (basic), “Stinger”-POST (Passive Optical Seeking Technology) and “Stinger”-RMP (Reprogrammable Microprocessor). They have the same composition of means, as well as the values of the firing range and height of engagement of the target, differing only in the homing heads (GOS) used on the FIM-92 anti-aircraft missiles of modifications A, B and C, corresponding to the three modifications of MANPADS listed above.
The development of the Stinger complex was preceded by work under the ASDP (Advanced Seeker Development Program), which began in the mid-60s, shortly before the launch of mass production of the Red Eye MANPADS and aimed at theoretical development and experimental confirmation of the feasibility of the Red Eye complex concept Eye-2" with a missile on which an all-angle infrared seeker was supposed to be used. The successful implementation of the ASDP program allowed the US Department of Defense to begin funding the development of a promising MANPADS in 1972, called the “Stinger” (“Stinging Insect”). This development, despite the difficulties that arose during its implementation, was completed by 1977, and General Dynamics began production of the first batch of samples, which were tested during 1979–1980.
The test results of the Stinger MANPADS with the FIM-92A missile equipped with an infrared seeker (wavelength range 4.1–4.4 µm), which confirmed its ability to hit targets on a collision course, allowed the Ministry of Defense to make a decision on serial production and deliveries from 1981 complex for US ground forces in Europe. However, the number of MANPADS of this modification, provided for in the original production program, was significantly reduced due to the progress achieved in the development of the POST seeker, which began in 1977 and by that time was in its final stage.
The dual-band POST seeker used on the FIM-92B missile defense system operates in the IR and ultraviolet (UV) wavelength ranges. Unlike the IR seeker of the FIM-92A missile, where information about the position of the target relative to its optical axis is extracted from a signal modulated by a rotating raster, it uses a rasterless target coordinator. Its IR and UV radiation detectors, operating in one circuit with two digital microprocessors, allow rosette-shaped scanning, which provides, firstly, high target selection capabilities in conditions of background interference, and secondly, protection from IR countermeasures.
Production of the FIM-92B missiles with POST seeker began in 1983, however, due to the fact that in 1985 General Dynamics began creating the FIM-92C missiles, the production rate was reduced compared to that previously envisaged. The new missile, the development of which was completed in 1987, uses a POST-RMP seeker with a reprogrammable microprocessor, which provides the ability to adapt the characteristics of the guidance system to the target and jamming environment by selecting appropriate programs. Replaceable memory blocks in which standard programs are stored are installed in the housing of the trigger mechanism of the Stinger-RMP MANPADS. The latest improvements to the Stinger-RMP MANPADS were carried out in terms of equipping the FIM-92C missile with a ring laser gyroscope, a lithium battery, and an improved roll angular velocity sensor.
The Stinger MANPADS of all modifications consists of the following main elements: a missile defense system in a transport and launch container (TPC), an optical sight for visual detection and tracking of a target, as well as an approximate determination of the range to it, a trigger mechanism, a power supply and cooling unit with an electric battery and container with liquid argon, identification equipment “friend or foe” AN/PPX-1.
The electronic unit of the latter is worn on the waist belt of the anti-aircraft gunner.
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FIM-92A missile |
The rocket is made according to the canard aerodynamic design. In the bow there are four aerodynamic surfaces, two of which are rudders, and the other two remain stationary relative to the missile defense body. To control using one pair of aerodynamic rudders, the rocket rotates around its longitudinal axis, and control signals received by the rudders are consistent with its movement relative to this axis. The rocket acquires its initial rotation due to the inclined location of the launch accelerator nozzles relative to the body. To maintain the rotation of the missile in flight, the planes of the tail stabilizer, which, like the rudders, open when the missile exits the TPK, are installed at a certain angle to the body. Control using one pair of rudders made it possible to achieve a significant reduction in the weight and cost of flight control equipment.
The solid-fuel dual-mode propulsion engine "Atlantic Research Mk27" ensures acceleration of the rocket to a speed corresponding to the Mach number = 2.2, and maintaining a relatively high speed throughout its flight to the target. This engine is turned on after the launch accelerator is separated and the rocket is removed to a safe distance for the gunner-operator (about 8 m).
The combat equipment of the missile defense system, weighing about 3 kg, consists of a high-explosive fragmentation warhead, an impact fuse and a safety-actuating mechanism that ensures the removal of the fuse safety stages and issuing a command to self-destruct the missile in case of a miss. 
The missile defense system is housed in a sealed cylindrical fiberglass TPK filled with inert gas. Both ends of the container are closed with lids that collapse during startup. The front one is made of material that allows infrared and UV radiation, which allows the seeker to lock onto a target without breaking the seal. The tightness of the container and the sufficiently high reliability of the missile defense equipment ensure that missiles are stored by troops without maintenance for ten years.
The launch mechanism, with the help of which the rocket is prepared for launch and the launch is carried out, is attached to the TPK using special locks. The electric battery of the power supply and cooling unit (this unit is installed in the trigger housing in preparation for firing) is connected through a plug connector to the on-board network of the rocket, and a container with liquid argon is connected through a fitting to the cooling system line. On the lower surface of the trigger mechanism there is a plug connector for connecting the electronic unit of the “friend or foe” identification equipment, and on the handle there is a trigger with one neutral and two operating positions. When you press the trigger and move it to the first operating position, the power supply and cooling unit is activated, as a result of which electricity from the battery (voltage 20 volts, operating time of at least 45 seconds) and liquid argon enter on board the rocket, providing cooling for the seeker detectors , spinning up the gyroscope and performing other operations related to preparing the missile defense system for launch. With further pressure on the trigger and its occupation of the second operating position, the on-board electric battery is activated, capable of powering the electronic equipment of the rocket for 19 seconds, and the igniter of the missile launching engine is activated.
During combat operations, data on targets comes from an external detection and target designation system or from the crew number conducting airspace surveillance. After detecting a target, the shooter-operator places the MANPADS on his shoulder and points it at the selected target. When the missile's seeker captures it and begins to accompany it, a sound signal turns on and the vibration device of the optical sight, to which the shooter presses his cheek, warns of the target being captured. Then pressing the button will release the gyroscope. Before launch, the operator enters the required lead angles. With his index finger he presses the trigger guard, and the on-board battery begins to work. When it returns to normal mode, the cartridge with compressed gas is activated, which discards the tear-off plug, turning off the power from the power supply and cooling unit and turning on the squib to start the starting engine.
The main combat unit of the Stinger MANPADS is a crew consisting of a commander and a gunner-operator, who have at their disposal six missiles in the TPK, an electronic warning and display unit for the air situation, as well as an M998 Hammer all-terrain vehicle (4x4 wheel arrangement). The main crews are available in the regular anti-aircraft divisions of American divisions (there are 72 of them in the air assault division, 75 in the armored division, and 90 in the light infantry division), as well as in the “Patriot” and “Improved Hawk” missile defense divisions.
The Stinger MANPADS have been widely used in local conflicts in recent decades. It was also used by the Mujahideen during the war in Afghanistan against Soviet troops. During the first two weeks of using the Stinger MANPADS at the beginning of 1987, they shot down three Su-25s, killing two pilots. By the end of 1987, losses amounted to almost an entire squadron - 8 aircraft. Thermal traps did not save the vehicle from an already launched missile, and the powerful warhead very effectively hit the Su-25 engines, causing a fire, as a result of which the stabilizer control cables burned out.
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