US Faces Stinger Shortage, Replacing 1900 Unusable Missiles
Stinger Portable Air Defense Missile (MANPADS) Shortage Continues in the USA, but Renewed Missiles Put Into Service
The shortage of Stinger Portable Air Defense Missiles (MANPADS) continues in the USA, leading to the renewed activation and deployment of 1900 formerly unusable missiles.
Many NATO member countries utilize the Stinger Missile for portable air defense. The Stinger Missile, which has not been manufactured for nearly 20 years, has faced supply constraints following the Ukraine-Russia War. As a result, plans are in place to reactivate the production lines in an effort to meet this demand. While the production of new missiles is not expected to commence until 2025, even workers approaching 70 years of age are being called back to work.
In light of these constraints, the USA has turned to renewing and reinstating expired and unusable Stinger MANPADS. A total of 1900 Stinger Missiles have been returned to service after undergoing an extensive renewal process that included the replacement of key components, such as engines and fuzes. This renewal effort has saved an estimated $10,000 per missile, with the renewed missiles now boasting a shelf life of 10 years.
In addition to the renewal efforts, the U.S. Army has disclosed that the missile is now equipped with new technology designed to counter unmanned aerial systems (UAVs), a threat that was not previously within the Stinger’s target set. While detailed information about this technology remains undisclosed, analysts believe that the innovation revolves around the seeker head and software of the missile.
The efforts to renew Stinger Missiles commenced in 2017 as part of the Stinger Service Life Extension Program at McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (MCAAP). Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the service approved funds to replace 2,700 obsolete missiles in the summer of 2022 in order to bolster the active inventory.
Moreover, the US Army has signed a contract with Raytheon to produce 1,300 Stingers as replacements for the missiles sent to Ukraine. The military is soliciting potential developers to replace the man-portable missiles that were first introduced in the 1980s.
The FIM-92K Stinger MANPADS, which has a maximum range of 8 kilometers and can engage targets at an altitude of 3.5 kilometers, is an infrared-guided missile that weighs 12.7 kilograms. The Stinger Missile remains the primary MANPADS for many NATO member countries, including Turkey, and is also widely used by non-NATO countries.
Source: DefenseSanayiST.com
