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Ukraine - Stinger MANPADS

The United States sent thousands of Stinger air defense systems to Ukraine. The US government provided Ukraine with about 1,500 Stinger MANPADS to help it resist a Russian invasion. In May 2022, the Army awarded a $624.6 million contract to supply 1,300 Stinger MANPADS to replenish the U.S. stockpile. On January 21, 2022, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia made a joint statement that they will provide Ukraine with American weapons with the permission of the United States. Latvia and Lithuania provide Stinger MANPADS, and Estonia Javelin anti-aircraft missiles.

The Prime Minister of Latvia Krishjanis Karinsh announced the possibility of transferring another batch of Stinger MANPADS to Ukraine. "European Truth" writes about this, the Delfi portal reported 11 January 2023. Karinsh said that it is currently being evaluated in what way it is possible to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion. "Yesterday, we decided to send equipment from the State Police to Ukraine. These days, a whole convoy of buses with all kinds of aid will leave Riga," the Prime Minister said. He also reported that the possibility of military aid to Ukraine is being discussed - the possibility of sending another batch of Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems and other military aid. "We will continue in this direction, we must be together with Ukrainians, they are fighting for our values, against the Russian aggressor," Karinsh said.

In 1981, "Stingers" began to enter the American army under the name FIM -92A "Stinger". The fragmentation-beam warhead has 3 kilograms of explosives and has not changed much to this day, but there have been changes in other functional elements of the missiles.

A modification with the letter J is the latest. The missile with a homing warhead is already adapted to hit low-maneuverable targets, such as: cruise missiles, drones and helicopters. Since the last modifications of E and H, the Americans stopped distributing the characteristics of MANPADS, but after 2010 they began to equip them with a non-contact detonator and a new engine. If earlier the rocket had to accurately hit the target for damage, then after the modification to the J series, it is not necessary.

The main characteristics and idea of such a complex are simplicity of aiming and high striking ability. That is, any infantryman can be quickly taught to aim correctly, connect a battery with argon to cool the homing thermal head and shoot. And one more feature — the Stinger is disposable, just like the British NLAW anti-tank system. You can watch a video about it in the right corner with a hint.

In terms of legendary status and use in world conflicts, the Stinger is in service with 28 countries. Its certified production is also established in Germany (manufacturer is Raytheon Missile Systems). It was successfully used for the first time in 1982 during the conflict on the Falkland Islands by the British SAS special forces - they shot down the then light Argentine attack aircraft "Pucar". At the last open count in 2014, the Stinger had shot down about 270 planes and helicopters.

Obtaining "Stingers" from Lithuania and Latvia will definitely be beneficial in the armed confrontation between Russia and Ukraine. Russian pilots who will fly planes or helicopters know exactly what the Stinger is. Of course, this is another informational pressure on the enemy, but it is clearly confirmed by the results. There are many more MANPADS complexes, but the Allies chose the Stinger because of its popularity and effectiveness.

As in the case of the NLAW ATGM, the enemy will constantly think that a Ukrainian is looking at his tank from every window, from behind every tree or bush through the sight of a grenade launcher. And every plane or helicopter is waiting for a Stinger missile or other MANPADS.

Missiles for the HAWK air defense system, along with four Avenger air defense systems and Stinger missiles are headed to Ukraine as part of a presidential drawdown authority security assistance package worth up to $400 million, the Defense Department announced 10 November 2022.

Following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the United States embarked on a long-term commitment to provide Ukraine with the tools and equipment it needs to defend its sovereignty. Things such as Javelin and Stinger missiles, HIMARS rocket launcher systems, and Switchblade unmanned aerial systems, for instance, had been pulled directly from existing U.S. military inventory to be sent overseas. Because so much gear had been pulled from U.S. military units, that equipment must be replaced in order to sustain America's own readiness. That includes about $352 million in funding for replacement Javelin missiles, $624 million for replacement Stinger missiles.

According to Russian military expert Viktor Litovkin, the Stingers shipped to Ukraine have not proven as effective as Washington and its allies might like, given Kiev’s propensity for selling off its Western military aid to third countries, plus the countermeasures available aboard Russian fixed wing and rotary aircraft which can disarm these systems. “Furthermore, some of our helicopters are equipped with radioelectronic warfare systems, allowing them to evade Stingers. Therefore Stingers have had had limited success or effect in Ukraine,” retired Russian Army colonel said.

Man-portable air defense systems like Stingers and Verbas are just one element to an effective air defense system, with other components including mobile vehicle-based missile systems, and long-range, mostly stationary air and missile defenses. Russia has demonstrated the limited effectiveness of all classes of Ukrainian air defense over the past year, targeting military infrastructure across the country, and destroying billions of dollars in Western-provided air and missile defense hardware in massed missile and drone attacks.

Military expert Allan Orr said that the West had practically no Stinger man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). He stated this to Newsweek newspaper on 01 July 2023. "Stinger is almost over, Russia knows it now," he said. Orr also noted that this made it difficult for Ukraine to counteroffensive, because Ukrainian troops, without air cover, "cannot pass through the formation of Russian mines and artillery." The expert stressed that without the Stinger, the APU fighters are an easy target for attack helicopters.

Earlier, the American company Raytheon decided to hire retired specialists to start the production of Stinger MANPADS. On June 27, Stinger MANPADS were once again included in the $500 million military assistance package allocated by the Pentagon to Kiev. The package also includes shells for Patriot air defense systems, Javelin anti-tank missile systems, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Stryker armored vehicles.