What is Stinger Missile?

The FIM-92 Stinger is a man-portable surface-to-air missile system (MANPADS) that was designed and manufactured by the American Defense Industry.

What is Stinger Missile?
Table of Contents

About Stinger Missile:

  • The FIM-92 Stinger is a man-portable surface-to-air missile system (MANPADS) that was designed and manufactured by the American Defense Industry.
  • The system entered into service with the U.S. Army in 1981.
  • Used currently by the U.S. armed forces and 29 other countries, it is manufactured by Raytheon Missile Systems and under license by EADS in Germany. 
  • It was designed to provide air defense capabilities to the United States and allied troops when forward deployed and thus eliminate the immediate need for air support should an enemy aircraft threaten the troops.
  • Features:
    • The missile is 1.52 m long and 70 mm in diameter, with 10 cm fins. 
    • It is lightweight. The missile and its launcher weigh about 15 kilograms. The launcher is reusable.
    • It can be carried and fired by troops or mounted to a vehicle and used as short-range defense against aircraft.
    • It uses a passive infrared seeker. The infrared seeker can lock on to the heat the target is producing.
    • It is a “fire-and-forget” weapon, meaning it requires no input from the gunner once it’s fired.
    • It can hit targets flying as high as 11,500 feet (3,500 meters), and has a range of about 5 miles (8 kilometers). 

Q1: What is Igla-S?

Igla-S is a man-portable air defence system (MANPADS) developed by Russia. It is a hand-held defence system that can be operated by an individual or crew. It is designed to bring down low-flying aircraft and can also identify and neutralise air targets such as cruise missiles and drones.

Source: NATO signs $700 mn Stinger Missile contract in push for defence boost

Update Icon
Latest UPSC Exam 2026 Updates

Date IconLast updated on Sep, 2026

UPSC 2027 Notification will be released on 13 January 2027 at upsconline.nic.in.

Asian Games 2026 are being held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October.

→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus here.

→ Download UPSC Model Answers for Mains 2026

UPSC Mains Question Paper 2026 is out now for Essay & GS Paper 1, 2, 3 & 4.

UPSC Calendar 2027 has been released.

→ Enroll in Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mains Test Series 2027 for structured answer writing practice, expert evaluation, and exam-oriented feedback.

→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s UPSC Mentorship Program 2027 for personalized guidance, strategy planning, and one-to-one support from experienced mentors.

→ Go through the UPSC Mains Previous Year Papers to enhance your preparation.

→ UPSC has released UPSC Toppers List 2025 with the Civil Services final result on its official website.

→ Also check Best UPSC Coaching in India

Vajiram Content Team
At Vajiram & Ravi, our team includes subject experts who have appeared for the UPSC Mains and the Interview stage. With their deep understanding of the exam, they create content that is clear, to the point, reliable, and helpful for aspirants.Their aim is to make even difficult topics easy to understand and directly useful for your UPSC preparation—whether it’s for Current Affairs, General Studies, or Optional subjects. Every note, article, or test is designed to save your time and boost your performance.
UPSC GS Course 2027
UPSC GS Course 2027
₹1,80,000
Enroll Now
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
GS Foundation Course 2 Yrs
₹2,45,000
Enroll Now
UPSC Mentorship Program
UPSC Mentorship Program
₹65000
Enroll Now
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
UPSC Sureshot Mains Test Series
₹27000
Enroll Now
Prelims Powerup Test Series
Prelims Powerup Test Series
₹14000
Enroll Now
Enquire Now