FIM-92 Stinger

The FIM-92 Stinger is a man portable infra-red homing surface-to-air missile developed in the United States and used by all the US armed services, with whom it entered service in 1981. The basic Stinger missile has to date been responsible for 270 confirmed kills of aircraft.

History

Initial work on the missile was begun by General Dynamics in 1967 as the Redeye II. It was accepted for further development by the US Army in 1971 and designated FIM-92; the Stinger appellation was chosen in 1972. Because of technical difficulties that dogged testing, the first shoulder launch was not until mid-1975. Production of the FIM-92A began in 1978 to replace the FIM-43 Redeye. An improved Stinger with a new seeker, the FIM-92B, was produced from 1983 alongside the FIM-92A. Production of both the A and B types ended in 1987 with around 16,000 missiles produced.

Related Topics:
General Dynamics - 1967 - 1971 - 1972 - 1975 - 1978 - FIM-43 Redeye - 1983 - 1987

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The replacement FIM-92C had been developed from 1984 and production began in 1987. The first examples were delivered to front-line units in 1989. C-type missiles were fitted with a reprogrammable electronics system to allow for upgrades. The missiles which received a counter-measures upgrade were designated D and later upgrades to the D were designated G.

Related Topics:
1984 - 1989

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The FIM-92E or Block I was developed from 1992 and delivered from 1995 (certain sources state that the FIM-92D is also part of the Block I development). The main changes were again in the sensor and the software, improving the missile's performance against smaller and low-signature targets. A software upgrade in 2001 was designated F. Block II development began in 1996 using a new focal plane array sensor to improve the missile's effectiveness in "high clutter" environments and increase the engagement range to about 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Production was scheduled for 2004, but Janes reports that this may be on hold.

Related Topics:
1992 - 1995 - Software - 2001 - 1996 - 2004

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Since 1984 the Stinger has been issued to many US Navy warships for point defense, particularly in Middle Eastern waters.

Related Topics:
US Navy - Warship - Middle East

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The CIA helped supply nearly 500 Stingers (some souces claim 1500) to the mujahideen militants fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan. The Stingers are said to have downed nearly 300 Russian aircraft, including many helicopter gunships, before Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 1989. Also, as part of its effort to help overthrow Angola's government, the Reagan administration provided Stingers to UNITA rebels in the late 1980s. In both cases, efforts to recover missiles after the end of hostilities proved futile. There has been speculation that the reason the Stinger has not been used in further attacks is because the batteries that are needed for the launcher to function have expired. After the Soviet withdrawal the US government collected the Stingers it had delivered, but 16 of them found their way into Iran giving it the technology.

Related Topics:
CIA - Mujahideen - Soviet - Afghanistan - Russia - Helicopter gunships - 1989 - Angola - Reagan - UNITA - 1980s - Iran

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