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Systems / Missiles and rockets

Shoulder-fired infrared-homing surface-to-air missile (MANPADS)combat-provenpartial data

FIM-92 Stinger

Stinger, Stinger RMP

A soldier-carried missile that homes on the heat of aircraft, helicopters and drones at short range.

$468,000 Per missile, derived: US Army contract for 1,468 Stingers worth $687 million (May 2022, Reuters via Al Jazeera). The contract total may include items beyond the missiles. The 2024 NATO (NSPA) contract was 'nearly $700 million' per Defense News, which gives no missile count.

MISSILE, FINS DEPLOYEDBATTERY / COOLANT UNITGRIPSTOCK, TRIGGERIFF ANTENNAOPTICAL SIGHTSEEKERWARHEAD, MOTOR1.5 m missileFIM-92 STINGERv_max = 2,400 km/h, M 2.0t = R/v = 8/2,400 = 0 minR = 8 kmm = 16.5 kgMOTIONCREED · SYSTEMS STUDYDWG MC-2146REV ASCALE SEE BARUNITS mLAUNCHER PROPORTIONS INDICATIVE
01234560246810GROUND RANGE, KMALT, KMSHAHED CRUISE BAND, 2 TO 5 KM (2025)ceiling 3 km8 km effective · reaches 100% of the band overheadFIM-92 STINGER
MakerRTX (Raytheon)
OriginUnited States
First combatFalklands War, 1982 (British SAS shot down an Argentine Puma)
Length1.5 m
Weight16.5 kg
Top speed2,400 km/h
Max range8 km
Ceiling3 km
PropulsionLaunch motor plus dual-thrust solid fuel rocket motor
GuidanceFire-and-forget passive infrared seeker with proportional navigation
LauncherShoulder gripstock; also vehicle turrets (Avenger, M-SHORAD, Skyranger 30) and helicopters (air-to-air Stinger)

In US service since 1981 and still the most common Western MANPADS. The Dutch MoD lists 1.52 m length, 16.5 kg, up to 2,400 km/h and 5 km effective range; the FAS fact sheet gives 1 to 8 km range and a 3 km (10,000 ft) ceiling. Using a missile costing hundreds of thousands of dollars against cheap drones is the cost problem newer interceptors aim to solve.

Sources (11)
  1. Netherlands MoD, Materieel Gezien: Mijn materieel, Stinger MANPADS (Sep 2025) (length_m)
  2. Netherlands MoD, Materieel Gezien: Mijn materieel, Stinger MANPADS (Sep 2025) (weight_kg)
  3. Netherlands MoD, Materieel Gezien: Mijn materieel, Stinger MANPADS (Sep 2025) (speed_kmh_max)
  4. FAS Military Analysis Network, FIM-92A Stinger (archived 2016) (range_km)
  5. FAS Military Analysis Network, FIM-92A Stinger (archived 2016) (altitude_max_km)
  6. FAS Military Analysis Network, FIM-92A Stinger (archived 2016) (propulsion)
  7. FAS Military Analysis Network, FIM-92A Stinger (archived 2016) (guidance_or_cueing)
  8. Al Jazeera / Reuters, US buys more Stingers to refill stock sent to Ukraine (27 May 2022) (unit_cost_usd)
  9. Defense News / AP, NATO signs $700 million Stinger missile contract (9 Jul 2024) (unit_cost_note)
  10. US Army, New propulsion program for legacy missile (21 May 2025): in service since 1981, up to Mach 2 (notes)
  11. MercoPress, Argentine Puma shot down by American Stinger missile (12 Apr 2002, archived) (first_combat)
A US Marine low altitude air defense gunner fires an FIM-92 Stinger.
A US Marine low altitude air defense gunner fires an FIM-92 Stinger. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense Current Photos Lance Cpl. Cody Ohira/2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Combat Camera, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped and resized
Marine gunner prepares to engage a target drone with a Stinger launcher.
Marine gunner prepares to engage a target drone with a Stinger launcher. Photo: Lance Cpl. Anthony Brosilow, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped and resized
Marine carries a Stinger missile round during a live-fire exercise in Norway, 2022.
Marine carries a Stinger missile round during a live-fire exercise in Norway, 2022. Photo: Lance Cpl. Elias Pimentel, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; cropped and resized

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