Raytheon Awarded $625 million FIM-92 Stinger Contract
Raytheon has been recently awarded a new contract worth $624 million for 1,300 units of the FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft launchers. The Stinger man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) entered service in the early 1980s as a replacement for the FIM-43 Redeye. It saw use in the 1980s during the Soviet Intervention in Afghanistan and is now in use against Soviet-era Russian air assets in Ukraine. Thousands of Stinger missiles have been deployed to Ukraine since February being one of the initial defensive aid weapon systems to be transferred. Since March the Pentagon has been discussing its desire to replenish its stocks of Stingers, while also continuing to provide even more to Ukraine.
Wes Kremer, president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense, said:
“We’re aligned with the U.S. Army on a plan that ensures we fulfill our current foreign military sale order, while replenishing Stingers provided to Ukraine and accelerating production […] The funding will be used to enhance Stinger’s producibility in an effort to meet the urgent need for replenishment.”
The combat-proven Stinger missile is a lightweight, self-contained air defense system that ground troops can rapidly deploy. Its supersonic speed, agility, and highly accurate guidance and control system gives the weapon an operational edge against aircraft. Stinger is one of many MANPADS delivered to Ukraine along with the British Starstreak system and Polish Grom/Piorun anti-aircraft missile. The MANPADS have played a huge role in minimizing the effect of the Russian Air Force strikes on Ukrainian positions in during the initial phases of the conflict and presently in Donbas.
The contract, awarded on 27 May, is a part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, an emergency fund to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces in dire need of equipment. The US government has committed over $9.05 billion to replenish US stocks of equipment sent to Ukraine through drawdown authority. It means that other weapons systems such as FM-148 Javelin and M777 howitzers will be also restocked by domestic manufacturers. Additionally, $6 billion will be provided for assistance, including training, equipment, weapons, logistics support, supplies and services, salaries and stipends, sustainment, and intelligence support to the military and national security forces of Ukraine.