Manpad Menace

Countering the MANPAD threat consistantly challenges industry’s design and development teams

- Joetey Attariwala

One of the most unpredictable and terrifying asymettric threats to military fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft revolves around Man-Portable Air Defence Systems, or MANPADS. These low-cost, light-weight, infrared surface-to-air missile systems are small in size, highly mobile, easy to employ, and exceptionally difficult to detect - all of which makes them incredibly lethal.

Numerous countries around the world manufacture MANPADS, and although these systems are tightly controlled, they are prevalent across the globe. Additionally, the features that make MANPADS suitable for soldiers also makes them attractive to those with nefarious intent. Collectively, these aspects make countering the MANPADS threat an incredibly important priority for militaries around the world.

The MANPADS threat

The first development of a rudimentary MANPADS dates back to the 1940s where unguided rockets were used. MANPADS became more refined and much more lethal in the 1960s when systems began to use heat-seeking infrared (IR) missiles which guide themselves by zeroing in on a target's infrared heat signature. Unlike radar guided missiles, infrared guided missiles are undetectable until launched.

Simply stated, a MANPADS consists of a launcher tube with a gripstock, a sight assembly, and a battery/coolant unit. Inside the launcher tube is a single infrared radiation homing (heatseeking) guided missile that requires no control from the gunner after firing. The missile itself is comprised of three main sections: guidance, warhead, and propulsion.

The first MANPADS of significance in the United States was the General Dynamics FIM-43 Redeye; however the most well known system today is the Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger weapon system.