Stinger trainer undergoes VSHORADS field trials

The Raytheon Stinger missile has undergone a series of Very Short Range Air Defense System (SHORADS) field trials in Finland, during which the company said it demonstrated ‘flawless’ performance.

The trials saw six Finish gunners trained on three missile system tracking trainers. Using the trainer, each Finnish gunner successfully simulated tracking and engaging targets flown by the Finnish Army Materiel Command, including an F/A-18, NH-90 helicopter and Banshee drone.

The Stinger Weapon System is designed to provide advanced air defence for mobile forces via a high explosive hit-to-kill, blast-fragmentation warhead.

Raytheon believes the Stinger’s performance is unmatched by any other SHORAD missile and has been demonstrated and validated by its extensive test and combat record; the Stinger missile has specifically demonstrated its ability to successfully engage rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles during numerous test flights and in combat.

Mark Nicol, program director of Raytheon Missile Systems’ Stinger program, said: ‘The Stinger is best known for its Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS) variant, which gives the missile a surface-to-air capability, and these field trials prove that our competitors have yet to develop a MANPADS system that can truly outperform Stinger.

‘We have taken a system that has proven itself time and time again in critical combat situations, and have continually evolved the technology. The result is a system that is proven and designed for today’s warfighter in current and future conflicts.’

According to Raytheon, Stinger has nearly 300 combat kills and a success rate of over 92 percent in more than 1,500 live fire tests by US and allied forces.