Air Defense

FIM-92 Stinger

Also known as
  • Stinger
  • FIM-92
  • FIM-92A
  • FIM-92B
  • FIM-92C
  • FIM-92E
  • Stinger POST
  • Stinger RMP
  • Stinger RMP Block I

The FIM-92 Stinger is a U.S.-made infrared-guided surface-to-air missile family fielded as a shoulder-fired MANPADS, a vehicle-mounted SHORAD effector, and an air-to-air helicopter weapon. Its combat record runs from British use in the Falklands and Afghan resistance use against Soviet aircraft to U.S.-supplied Ukrainian air defense.

FIM-92 Stinger, Man-portable air-defense system, Air Defense
Image source: Wikimedia Commons Launched FIM-92A Stinger missile.jpg

Role in Conflicts

1982 Falklands War
Side
United Kingdom
Role in conflict
Portable air defense

British forces employed Stinger missiles as a portable air-defense weapon during the Falklands campaign.

1979 Soviet-Afghan War
Role in conflict
Portable air defense

U.S.-supplied Stinger missiles gave Afghan resistance forces a shoulder-fired means to attack Soviet helicopters and contest low-altitude air operations.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Man-portable air-defense system
Service note
Portable air defense
Designer
General Dynamics
Designed
1972-1974
Unit cost
About $60,000 (reported replacement cost in a 1987 DoD audit)

Specifications

Crew
1 operator possible; commonly used by a 2-person team
Guidance
Infrared-homing surface-to-air missile
Role
Surface-to-air and air-to-air
Speed
Up to about Mach 2+
Range
About 4.8 km
Altitude
About 3.8 km / 12,500 ft
Missile length
About 1.52-1.53 m
Warhead
About 3 kg blast-fragmentation
Mobility
Man-portable; also vehicle and helicopter adaptable
Targets
Low-altitude aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and some cruise missiles depending variant
Variants

Stinger designations separate the original FIM-92A missile from POST, RMP, Block I, and helicopter-launched ATAS configurations.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
FIM-92A Basic StingerOriginal production missile

Designation Systems identifies FIM-92A as the first production Stinger missile after the Redeye II program was renamed.

Sources: Designation Systems FIM-92 Stinger

FIM-92B Stinger-POSTPassive Optical Seeker Technique variant

FAS and Designation Systems describe Stinger-POST as a two-band IR/UV seeker variant intended to improve target discrimination against clutter and countermeasures.

Sources: FAS FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System, Designation Systems FIM-92 Stinger

FIM-92C Stinger-RMPReprogrammable Microprocessor variant

The RMP variant added reprogrammable onboard software so the missile could be updated against changing aircraft and countermeasure threats.

Sources: FAS FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System, Designation Systems FIM-92 Stinger

FIM-92E Stinger-RMP Block IBlock I upgrade

FAS describes Block I as a hardware and software upgrade with changes such as a roll-frequency sensor/seeker, smaller battery, and improved processor and memory.

Sources: FAS FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System

Air-to-Air StingerHelicopter-launched configuration

FAS and Army history describe ATAS as a Stinger adaptation for helicopter self-defense and air-to-air use.

Sources: FAS FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System, 1981 - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

Launch Platforms

Stinger also appears in mounted short-range air-defense roles, not only as a shoulder-fired missile.

Firing weaponWeapon typeFiring evidence
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, Self-propelled short-range air defense system, Air DefenseAN/TWQ-1 AvengerVehicle-mounted SHORAD

Redstone history describes Avenger as a HMMWV-mounted system with Stinger missiles in two pods, extending Stinger from MANPADS use into a mobile point-defense vehicle.

Sources: stinger / avenger - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

Carrier Aircraft And Vessels

Cataloged helicopter and vessel records show Stinger adapted beyond a shoulder-fired launch tube.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
AW-109, Light twin-engine attack and utility helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAW-109Armed helicopter

GlobalSecurity lists Stinger among the A109's air-to-air missile options.

Sources: GlobalSecurity A109 specifications

Black Hawk helicopter, Medium-lift military utility helicopter family, Aircraft & UAVsBlack Hawk helicopterArmed utility helicopter

Sikorsky Archives says MH-60L DAP Black Hawks carried Stinger missiles on external wings, and a Black Hawk demonstrator was shown with Hellfire and Stinger missiles.

Sources: Sikorsky Archives newsletter (NEWS-2019-01)

Frankenthal class minehunter, Minehunter class, Naval SystemsFrankenthal class minehunterMinehunter class

Bundeswehr lists FIM-92 Stinger among the Frankenthal class armament fit, showing the missile as carried by the class.

Sources: Die Minenjagdboote der Frankenthal-Klasse - Bundeswehr

Documented Mounts And Roles

Army history shows Stinger used in more than one mount or operating mode. The missile appears as a shoulder-fired MANPADS, as a vehicle-mounted SHORAD effector, and in helicopter self-protection roles.

ContextDocumented fitWhy it matters
AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, Self-propelled short-range air defense system, Air DefenseAN/TWQ-1 AvengerHMMWV-mounted system with Stinger missiles in two podsShows Stinger as the primary missile in a mobile short-range air-defense vehicle.
Helicopter self-protectionArmy tests showed Stinger suitable as an air-to-air self-protection system for helicoptersDocuments the air-to-air mission that sits alongside the missile's ground-launched MANPADS use.
Bradley Fighting VehicleArmy history says Stinger was used on the BFV for low-altitude air defenseShows how the missile was adapted into another tracked vehicle air-defense fit.
Timeline

FIM-92 Stinger Key Events

  1. REDEYE II renamed Stinger

    Redstone history says the REDEYE II was redesignated STINGER as the Army moved toward a one-for-one replacement for the basic REDEYE.

    Sources: redeye - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

  2. Engineering development contract awarded

    The Army awarded General Dynamics the engineering-development contract for the Stinger system.

    Sources: redeye - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

  3. Stingthrift approved

    The Army approved the Stingthrift program to reduce the missile's unit cost during production.

    Sources: 1974 - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

  4. Initial operational capability

    Redstone's 1981 history notes the Stinger reached initial operational capability in February 1981.

    Sources: 1981 - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

  5. Falklands War combat use

    British forces employed Stinger missiles during the Falklands War, giving the missile an early combat appearance outside U.S. service.

    Sources: Forces News Falklands weapons: Stinger

  6. U.S. combat deployment in Grenada

    Redstone history records Stinger deployment under combat conditions during the U.S. airborne assault on Grenada.

    Sources: 1983 - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

  7. Production passes 10,000 missiles

    FY 1985 production crossed the 10,000th Stinger missile mark.

    Sources: 1985 - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

  8. HMMWV-mounted Stinger ordered

    The Army ordered a HMMWV-mounted Stinger version to replace the MANPADS configuration.

    Sources: 1986 - Redstone Arsenal Historical Information

  9. Afghan resistance receives Stinger

    CIA museum material describes U.S.-supplied Stinger missiles giving Afghan guerrillas a more effective means to attack Soviet helicopter gunships.

    Sources: CIA Museum Stinger Missile Launcher

  10. Stinger-RMP reaches Army units

    Designation Systems reports first production Stinger-RMP missiles delivered to operational U.S. Army units in July 1989.

    Sources: Designation Systems FIM-92 Stinger

  11. RMP fielded for Desert Storm

    FAS says Stinger-RMP testing was suspended during Operation Desert Storm and the missile was rushed into the field for war preparations.

    Sources: FAS FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System

  12. Counter-UAS proximity-fuze retrofit

    Raytheon says the Army began retrofitting Stinger missiles with proximity fuzes in 2019 to improve performance against unmanned airborne systems.

    Sources: Stinger Missile

  13. U.S. assistance lists Stingers for Ukraine

    The U.S. Defense Department listed Stinger anti-aircraft missiles among security-assistance equipment supplied to Ukraine.

    Sources: Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine

Media

FIM-92 Stinger Videos

FIM-92 Stinger Images

FIM-92 Stinger, Man-portable air-defense system, Air Defense - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons Launch of a FIM-92 Stinger missile, 2012.jpg
FIM-92 Stinger, Man-portable air-defense system, Air Defense - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons FIM-92 Stinger (7783422).jpg
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Lockheed Martin QuadStar (NGSRI), Developmental short-range air-defense interceptor, Air DefenseAir DefenseLockheed Martin QuadStar (NGSRI)Developmental short-range air-defense interceptorLockheed Martin's QuadStar is a U.S. Army Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor candidate for M-SHORAD Increment 3, the program intended to replace the FIM-92 Stinger with a soldier-portable fire-and-forget short-range air-defense missile. Public sources place the missile in competitive development and flight testing, with Army budget documents and production-planning reporting tying NGSRI to SGT STOUT compatibility, dismounted air-defense use, and future procurement planning rather than confirmed combat fielding.
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Sources

Stinger MissilePublisher: Raytheon | Note: Supports general system specifications and background. | Accessed: 2026-06-30FAS FIM-92A Stinger Weapons SystemPublisher: Federation of American Scientists | Note: Supports variant structure, RMP and Block I details, ATAS context, specifications, and 1990 Gulf War direct fielding context for Stinger-RMP. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Redstone Desert Storm RolePublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports 1990 Gulf War direct-use context: Stinger deployed to Southwest Asia in manportable, Avenger, and Air-to-Air Stinger configurations, provided short-range air-defense protection, and was not fired as Stinger-RMP during Operation Desert Storm. | Accessed: 2026-07-07Designation Systems FIM-92 StingerPublisher: Designation-Systems.net | Note: Supports Stinger designation history, FIM-92A/B/C/E variant distinctions, and manufacturer succession from General Dynamics to later Stinger primes. | Accessed: 2026-06-30New propulsion program for legacy missile delivers a sharper stingPublisher: The United States Army | Note: Supports current Stinger service since 1981, Mach 2 speed, air-to-air and surface-to-air roles, and modern Army background. | Accessed: 2026-06-26FIM-92 StingerPublisher: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance | Note: Supports additional system background. | Accessed: 2026-06-19redeye - Redstone Arsenal Historical InformationPublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports the Stinger development lineage, 1972 redesignation from REDEYE II, and the engineering development contract awarded to General Dynamics. | Accessed: 2026-06-261974 - Redstone Arsenal Historical InformationPublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports the 1974 Stingthrift cost-reduction program and early unit-cost reduction work on Stinger. | Accessed: 2026-06-261981 - Redstone Arsenal Historical InformationPublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports 1981 service context and Army testing that showed Stinger's suitability as an air-to-air self-protection system for helicopters. | Accessed: 2026-06-261983 - Redstone Arsenal Historical InformationPublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports the first combat deployment of Stinger under combat conditions during the Grenada assault. | Accessed: 2026-06-261985 - Redstone Arsenal Historical InformationPublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports the FY 1985 production milestone when Stinger output passed the 10,000th missile mark. | Accessed: 2026-06-261986 - Redstone Arsenal Historical InformationPublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports the 1986 decision to procure and deploy a HMMWV-mounted Stinger version as a replacement for the MANPADS configuration. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Fact Sheet on U.S. Security Assistance to UkrainePublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports 2014 Russia-Ukraine War direct-use context: Stinger anti-aircraft missiles supplied to Ukraine. | Accessed: 2026-06-19CIA Museum Stinger Missile LauncherPublisher: Central Intelligence Agency | Note: Supports 1979 Soviet-Afghan War direct use: U.S.-supplied Stinger missiles used by Afghan guerrillas against Soviet aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Forces News Falklands weapons: StingerPublisher: Forces News | Note: Supports 1982 Falklands War direct use: British forces employed Stinger missiles during the conflict. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Turkey Strikes Back And Calls For No-Fly-Zone After Its Troops Die In Syria AirstrikesPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2011 Syrian Civil War direct-use context: license-made Stinger MANPADS deployed by Turkey and local partners in Idlib. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Pricing and Billing of Stinger Missiles Sold to Foreign Military Sales CustomersPublisher: U.S. Government Accountability Office | Note: Supports the reported replacement cost of about $60,000 per missile in the audit. | Accessed: 2026-06-26stinger / avenger - Redstone Arsenal Historical InformationPublisher: U.S. Army / Redstone Arsenal Historical Information | Note: Supports Stinger use on the Avenger vehicle, Army helicopter air-to-air fits, and Bradley Fighting Vehicle air-defense fits. | Accessed: 2026-06-26Sikorsky Archives newsletter (NEWS-2019-01)Publisher: Igor I Sikorsky Historical Archives | Note: Supports Black Hawk carriage of Stinger missiles on external wings and a Black Hawk demonstrator shown with Hellfire and Stinger missiles. | Accessed: 2026-06-28GlobalSecurity A109 specificationsPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the A109 carrying Stinger air-to-air missiles as an armament option. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Die Minenjagdboote der Frankenthal-Klasse - BundeswehrPublisher: Bundeswehr | Note: Supports the Frankenthal class carrying FIM-92 Stinger among its armament fit. | Accessed: 2026-06-28Wikimedia Commons Launched FIM-92A Stinger missile.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for the primary launched Stinger image. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Wikimedia Commons Launch of a FIM-92 Stinger missile, 2012.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for a Stinger launch training image. | Accessed: 2026-06-30Wikimedia Commons FIM-92 Stinger (7783422).jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing for a displayed FIM-92 Stinger image. | Accessed: 2026-06-30