Documents
United States Raytheon (RTX)
FIM-92 Stinger
A US man-portable infrared-homing surface-to-air missile that has been the standard Western MANPADS for over four decades, effective against low-flying aircraft, helicopters and drones. Large-scale deliveries to Ukraine and Afghan mujahideen before it have made it one of the most combat-proven MANPADS in history.
In service since 1981 · 40 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
5
km range
2.2
Mach
3
kg warhead
💲 ≈ $400,000, Approximate FMS unit cost including grip stock (missile alone lower)
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 40 operators
In service since 1981. Status: active · ~70,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 2.2 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 5 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 3 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Blast-fragmentation, impact/grazing fuze |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Infrared/ultraviolet homing |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 1.52 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 15 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Solid-fuel rocket |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $400,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 70,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 40 |
Specifications compiled from public Raytheon (RTX) and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Head-to-head comparisons
FIM-92 Stinger vs
Piorun Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger? +
The Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger has a maximum range of 5 km.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger weigh? +
The Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger has a combat weight of 15 kg.
What is the Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger used for? +
The Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger is a missile typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger? +
The Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger is operated by 40 countries.
How much does the Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger cost? +
The Raytheon (RTX) FIM-92 Stinger has an approximate unit cost of 400,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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Related coverage
FIM-92 Stinger in the news
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