Current Affairs

Issue

The US has been sending military aid to Ukraine to fight against invading Russian military. The equipments include MANPADS.

 

Details

• Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) are shoulder-fired missiles that can take down aircrafts from ground.

• They include weapons such as ground-to-air stinger missiles, which have been increasingly used to attack aircrafts.

 

Development

• MANPADS were invented in the 1950s to provide military ground forces with protection from jet aircraft. 

• These weapons have detection rage of 10km and engagement range of about 6 km. Targets flying above this height are safe.

 

Technology

• Command guidance (CLOS) missiles will need the operator to visually acquire the target and then use radio control to guide the flight path.

• Laser guided missiles will be guided using a sensors and Laser beam, which has to be pointed on the target till impact by the controller.

 

Types of MANPADS

• First generation

US Redeye, Soviet 9K 32 Strela-2, Chinese HN-5

 

• Second generation

U.S. Stinger, the Soviet Strela-3, Chinese FN-6

 

• Third generation 

French Mistral, the Soviet 9K 38 Igla, US Stingers B

 

• Fourth generation

FIM-92 Stinger Block 2, Russian Verba, Chinese QW-4, Japanese Type 91

 

Misuse of MANPADS

• US-made MANPADS have fallen into the hands of Mujahedeen in Afghanistan. They have used it to attack civilians.

• Russia has been supplying these MANPADS to countries such as Iraq and Venezuela to intensify fighting.

• Possession, export, and trafficking of such weapons are highly controlled to prevent use of these weapons by terrorist groups against civilian targets.