MANPADS, or man-portable air defense systems, are air-to-air missiles that can be fired
by a single person or a small group against aircraft.
These missiles are both inexpensive and widely accessible from a number of vendors.
Over the last three decades, man paths have been successfully used in military confrontations
as well as terrorist organizations, and they’ve garnered a lot of attention, particularly
in the recent Russian-Ukraine issue, so without further ado, here are the top 10 man pathways
in the world.
1.
FIM-92 STINGER
The basic model of the FIM-92a, which entered service in 1981, is a lightweight shoulder-fired
man-portable air defense system developed by the United States.
The stinger comes in a variety of versions, the most recent of which is more advanced
and offers significant advantages over prior models.
FIM-92A: It was designed by General Dynamics and manufactured by Raytheon missile systems,
at a cost of around FIM-92A: US$38,000+ ( it can deal with low-flying planes and helicopters
). The warhead is a three-kilogram pure sinking hit-to-kill warhead with a self-destruct timer
and an impact fuse.
The warhead can be detonated by penetrating the target and striking it, or by self-destructing.
The stinger missile has a maximum range of 8 kilometers and is destroyed 15 to 19 seconds
after launch.
Stinger missiles have a high degree of precision and can attack targets flying as high as 11,500
feet (3,500 meters).
This means that if an aircraft is less than two miles up and visible as a shape, the stinger
is most likely to hit it.
2.
9K333 VERBA
This is a new generation manned portable air defense missile system that was deployed by
the Russian Federation’s armed services in 2014.
Unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles, and other low-flying air targets are detected
and destroyed by the Verba MANPADS.
It can engage targets in the presence of thermal noise and can operate independently or as
part of a battery.
It makes use of a 9m336 missile, which can destroy targets flying at 500 meters per second
at a maximum altitude of 4.5 kilometers.
It can engage targets at a range of up to 6500 meters and has an 8-second reaction time.
It may be used at any time of day or night and in any weather condition.
3.
RBS 70 NG
Saab manufactures a Swedish man-portable air defense system.
A thermal imager, built-in automatic target tracker, and enhanced visual cueing aids are
all part of the integrated sighting system.
The RBS 70 engine system has a maximum range of 8 kilometers and a maximum altitude of
5 kilometers for destroying targets.
It can be used in conjunction with the pretend interrogator’s identification to identify
friendly targets.
The system is capable of firing missiles in tough terrains such as urban areas, and it
can operate in all weather conditions at all times of day and night.
4.
MISTRAL
is the Mistral, a man-portable air defense system developed by MBDA in France.
The missile is small, light, and precise.
It can reach a top speed of 930 meters per second and a height of 3 kilometers.
The warhead of the missile weighs 3 kilos.
It uses laser proximity detonation technology to reduce the chance of an early explosion.
The menstruating man pads have a high kill probability and a 97 percent verified success
record, making them more reliable than any other low-level air defense missile currently
in use.
This missile is also more maneuverable, even at high speeds.
5.
STAR STREAK LML-NG
This is a Teles-built British man-portable air defense system that speeds to more than
Mach 4 after launch, making it the world’s fastest short-range surface-to-air missile
with a high kill probability.
the unbroken line of stars LML-NG employs television and thermal imaging cameras, as
well as manual and automatic target tracking.
The star-streaking missile can engage targets up to 7000 meters distant, and one of its
key advantages is that it cannot be jammed by radar countermeasures or suppressed by
anti-radar missiles.
6.
TYPE 91
which resembles the American flick 92 Stingers in appearance Type 91 is classified as a fourth-generation
MANPAD system, with a superior navigation system that includes both visible light and
infrared options.
The missile captures the target’s visual profile during launch and can ignore defensive
countermeasures like flares.
Improvements to the type 91 kai included a missile with an image infrared seeker, a smokeless
motor, and the ability to shoot and target acquire targets faster.
It was also improved for nighttime use, with a top speed of Mach 1.9.
7.
9K338 IGLA-S
It is an enhanced derivative of the IGLA, which is a Russian-made man-portable infrared
homing surface-to-air missile defense system.
Due to good target selectivity against background interference and a larger range of up to six
kilometers, it possesses higher jamming immunity.
In comparison to its predecessor, the IGLA-S has a heavier warhead with a laser-based contact
proximity fuse.
The warhead also has a higher explosive charge and fragment number.
The a-glass system can engage cruise missiles and drones due to its high combat efficiency.
8.
GROM
This is a Polish man-portable air defense system based on the IGLA 9k38 missile, which
was adopted in 1981 by the Soviet Union.
During the 2008 Russian-Georgian war, 12 grown missiles were fired at Russian planes and
helicopters, with nine of them hitting their targets, according to reports.
The missile includes an infrared guidance system and a high explosive explosion fragmentation
warhead weighing 1.27 kilograms.
The missile has a contact detonation mechanism that detonates when it lands on its intended
target.
It can attack targets at a height of 3.5 kilometers and has a range of up to 5.5 kilometers.
9.
DRDO’s MPDMS
The DRDO’s MPDMS is the world’s most advanced MANPAD under development, and Hyderabad-based
Grene Robotics is working on an Autonomous MANPAD Data Link (ADML) system that will connect
isolated MANPAD operators in a networked environment.
AMDL is a cutting-edge data link technology that uses artificial intelligence to deliver
a comprehensive air defense solution.
India will be the 1st and Best country in the world to put this technology on MANPADS,
which are widely used forward-deployed Air Defense Systems.
ADML will help to reduce friendly fire occurrences by assigning targets in real-time and managing
the entire engagement cycle.
MPDMS will have a dual-band infrared homing seeker or multi-spectral optical seeker weighing
less than 20 kg, fire-and-forget capability, and the ability to engage aerial targets at
any time of day or night with an effective range of 6 kilometers and a height of engagement
of 3.5 kilometers.
10.
FN-6 MANPADS
The Chinese air defense missile FN-6 is based on the French Mistral.
It does, however, have a number of distinctions.
It appears that the Soviet Strela-2 and the US Stinger had an impact on it.
The FN-6 is a Chinese-made third-generation man-portable air defense system.
China’s armed forces have received the FN-6.
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, Peru, Sudan, and maybe additional countries have received
the FN-6 and its variants.
Some rebel factions also utilize this missile.
During the Syrian Civil War in 2013, this shoulder-launched missile was discovered in
the hands of opposition forces.
The FN-6 saw its first action and made its first air kills during this fight.
Under visible situations, the FN-6 is employed to protect friendly units, vehicles, and artillery
from enemy helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The maximum range of interception is 5.5 kilometers, while the maximum altitude is 3.8 kilometers.
The FN-6 missile is a fire-and-forget weapon.
It’s equipped with an infrared seeker.
It was created to detect infrared energy and guide itself over extremely hot surfaces,
such as the heat signature of an aircraft and, in particular, the inside of a jet engine.
The seeker is unaffected by background interference like the sun, clouds, or horizon, as well
as ground objects.
This missile is said to be effective against infrared decoys in terms of anti-jamming.
A single missile’s hit probability against an unprotected target is at least 70%.
If the target employs countermeasures such as infrared decoys, this number is lowered.
The FN-6 is a fighter jet that is used by air defense troops.
The launcher is manned by a two-man crew.
The FN-6 operates similarly to previous MANPAD systems like the Stinger.
The time to launch is roughly 5 seconds once the launcher is on the shoulder, covers are
removed, and sights are ready.
A friend-or-foe identification system, similar to that used on the US Stinger, can be installed
on the FN-6.
The FN-6 is known as the FY-6 when it is equipped with this technology (Fei Ying, meaning Flying
Eagle).
Vehicles, small watercraft, and helicopters can all be equipped with the FN-6 launcher.