The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency of Stinger missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $780 million. The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), as Lead Nation on behalf of Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, has requested to buy nine hundred forty (940) FIM-92K Stinger Block I Missiles. Also included are Battery Coolant Units (BCU); metal containers; U.S. Government and contractor production, technical, and engineering assistance; and other related elements of logistics and program support. This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands, three NATO Allies. The prime contractors will be Raytheon, Tucson, AZ, and Lockheed Martin, Syracuse, NY.
The FIM-92 Stinger is an American man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). It can be adapted to fire from a wide variety of ground vehicles, and from helicopters as the Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS). It entered service in 1981 and is used by the militaries of the United States and 29 other countries. It is principally manufactured by Raytheon Missiles & Defense and is produced under license by Airbus Defence and Space in Germany and by Roketsan in Turkey. The FIM-92 Stinger is a passive surface-to-air missile that can be shoulder-fired by a single operator (although standard military procedure calls for two operators, team chief and gunner).
The missile is 5.0 ft (1.52 m) long and 2.8 in (70 mm) in diameter with 3.9 in (100 mm) fins. The missile itself weighs 22 lb (10.1 kg), while the missile with its launch tube and integral sight, fitted with a gripstock and Identification friend or foe (IFF) antenna, weighs approximately 34 lb (15.2 kg). It has a targeting range of up to 4,800 m and can engage low altitude enemy threats at up to 3,800 m. The Stinger is launched by a small ejection motor that pushes it a safe distance from the operator before engaging the main two-stage solid-fuel sustainer, which accelerates it to a maximum speed of Mach 2.54 (750 m/s). The warhead contains 1.02 kg (2.25 lb) of HTA-3 (a mix of HMX, TNT, and aluminium powder) explosive with an impact fuze and a self-destruct timer that functions 17 seconds after launch.
FIM-92J is a Block I upgrade introduced in 2018 that incorporates a proximity fuse and new flight motor and booster. Upgrades include a proximity fuze warhead section, equipped with a target detection device to increase effectiveness against unmanned aerial vehicles, a new flight motor and gas generator cartridge, as well as new designs for the o-rings and integral desiccant cartridge. FIM-92K is similar but adds a datalink that allows for lock on after launch capability, extending effective range against low signature targets. Block I missile upgrade to replace aging components to extend service life an additional 10 years. The FIM-92J and K upgrades improve Stinger’s capability against novel threats, namely that of small Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
