Ukraine’s MiG Killer: How the Stinger Missile Works
WASHINGTON — “Manpads” aren’t what you think they are. The “Man” part stands for “Man,” yes, but the “P” stands for “Portable,” and the A.D.S. stands for “Air Defense System.”
The Stinger missile is one such a “Man-Portable Air Defense System,” and the U.S. is sending many to Ukraine. Here are the details:
The U.S. recently committed to sending another $350 million worth of weapons to Ukraine, bringing the one-year total donation to $1 billion.
Among these weapons are a large number of Stinger missiles, which are designed to destroy fighter jets and helicopters with the pull of a trigger.
The Stinger system can be carried by one person and is fired from the shoulder. The operator aims the launcher at the target until the missile’s infrared seeker locks on to the heat of the target aircraft’s engine exhaust.
When the seeker locks on, it makes a buzzing noise. The operator then pulls the trigger, causing a small launch rocket to shoot the missile out of the tube. This launch rocket then drops away and the missile’s folded steering fins pop out.
The main rocket ignites, propelling the Stinger to approximately 2,500 kilometers per hour, or Mach 2. The missile uses its steering fins to steer itself to the target automatically.
When it gets close to the aircraft, its warhead detonates, destroying vital systems with blast effect and fragmentation.
The system was heavily used by Afghan fighters during the Soviet occupation of the 1980s. Up to 250 Soviet fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters were claimed to have been shot down by Stingers.
In total, the Stinger is credited with around 300 shoot-downs worldwide.
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