Shrinking U.S. Stinger missile supply faces re-stocking challenges

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Shoulder-fired Stinger missiles are in hot demand in Ukraine where they have successfully stopped Russian assaults from the air, but U.S. supplies have shrunk and producing more of the anti-aircraft weapons faces significant hurdles.

Challenges include complications related to ramping up production, reluctance by the United States to redirect valuable manufacturing capacity to decades-old technology, and fears among defense companies that they would be stuck with unwanted arms when the Ukraine war winds down, according to interviews with U.S. officials and defense firms.

While U.S. troops themselves have limited use for the current supply of Stingers — a lightweight, self-contained weapon that can be deployed quickly to defend against helicopters, airplanes, drones and even cruise missiles — the U.S. needs to maintain its supply on hand while it develops the next generation of a “man-portable air defense system.”

By NC ScoutPublished On: April 27, 2022Categories: AP Staff, Intelligence, Weapons1 Comment

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at brushbeater@tutanota.com or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

One Comment

Grumpster April 28, 2022 at 00:52

I’m thinking the Army will be fielding other options like UAV’s that are not sitting targets. Still it makes me wonder if this isn’t a planned shortfall in an effort to line the pockets of the MICKEY LOUSE club. (Military Industrial Complex Keeps Everyone Yoked Living Only Under Statist Edict)