Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS)

Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) Latest News

The Indian Army is undertaking a major strategic shift in its air defence operations, repurposing its Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS) to specifically counter the rising threat of sub-sonic cruise missiles.

About Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS)

• MANPADS are surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by an individual or a small team of people against aircraft.
• These weapon systems often are described as shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles. 
• MANPADS are generally less than 2 metres in length and weigh around 20 kg. 
• The United States and the Soviet Union first deployed MANPADS—the Redeye and Strela systems, respectively—in the 1960s to provide their infantries with portable anti-aircraft weapons. 
• The militaries of about 105 countries across the world operate MANPADS, although only 12 countries, including India, produce them. 
• The most famous MANPADS are the US-made ‘Stinger’ and the Soviet 9K32 Strela-2, or simply ‘SA-7′ with the China-made ‘FN-16’ being the latest entrant. 
• Three general types of MANPADS exist: command line of sight, laser guided, and infrared seekers.
  • Command line-of-sight MANPADS are guided to their targets through the use of a remote control. 
  • Laser-guided or laser beam rider MANPADS follow a laser projected onto the target. 
  • The most common MANPADS, frequently called heat seeking missiles, however, are infrared seekers that acquire their target by detecting the heat of an aircraft’s engine.
• Most MANPADS consist of: 
  • a missile packaged in a tube; 
  • a launching mechanism (commonly known as a “gripstock”); and 
  • a battery

Source: DEF

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