Editing FIM-92 Stinger (section)

==Description==
{{More citations needed|date=March 2013}}
The FIM-92 Stinger is a passive [[surface-to-air missile]] that can be shoulder-fired by a single operator (although standard military procedure calls for two operators{{snd}} team chief and gunner).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/ost-military-doctrine-fm44_18_1/|title= FM-44-18-1: STINGER TEAM OPERATIONS|date= December 31, 1984|publisher= [[U.S. Army]]}}</ref> The Stinger was intended to supplant the [[FIM-43 Redeye]] system, the principal difference being that, unlike the Redeye, the Stinger can acquire the target from head-on, giving much more time to acquire and destroy the target. The FIM-92B missile can also be fired from the [[AN/TWQ-1 Avenger|M1097 Avenger]] and the [[M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle#M6 Linebacker|M6 Linebacker]]. The missile is also capable of being deployed from a [[Humvee]] Stinger rack and can be used by airborne troops. A helicopter launched version exists and is called [[AIM-92 Stinger|Air-to-Air Stinger]] (ATAS).

The missile is {{convert|1.52|m|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}} long and {{convert|70|mm|in|abbr=on|order=flip}} in diameter, with {{convert|100|mm|in|abbr=on|order=flip}} fins. The missile itself weighs {{convert|10.1|kg|lb|abbr=on|order=flip}}, while the missile with its launch tube and integral sight, fitted with a gripstock and [[identification friend or foe]] (IFF) antenna, weighs approximately {{convert|15.2|kg|lb|abbr=on|order=flip}}. It has a targeting range of up to {{convert|4800|m|ft|order=flip}} and can engage low-altitude enemy threats at up to {{convert|3800|m|ft|order=flip}}.

The Stinger is launched by a small ejection motor that pushes it a safe distance from the operator before engaging the main two-stage solid-fuel sustainer, which accelerates it to a maximum speed of {{convert|2.54|Mach|mph m/s|sigfig=3}}. The warhead contains {{convert|2.25|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of HTA-3<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/fm-3-04.140-06-helicopter-gunnery|title = FM 3-04.140 Helicopter Gunnery}}</ref> (a mix of [[HMX]], [[TNT]], and aluminium powder) explosive with an [[impact fuze]] and a self-destruct timer that functions 17&nbsp;seconds after launch.
[[File:FIM-92 Stinger firing.webm|thumb|upright=1.35|FIM-92 Stinger firing]]
[[File:Staff Sgt. Warren Jackson points out a target to Stinger anti-aircraft guided missile gunner Sgt. Gary Cross during the air base ground defense Exercise Foal Eagle '89 DF-ST-90-12024.jpg|thumb|M134 Stinger Tracking Trainer with IFF antenna unfolded]]
[[File:US Army Paratrooper Jumps with FIM-92 from 34 foot tower.png|thumb|A paratrooper with E Battery, 3rd Battalion, [[4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment]] practices jumping from a 34-foot tower with the FIM-92 Stinger]]
[[File:1-7 repels enemy assault at Lava Training Area 140203-M-OM885-094.jpg|thumb|Launcher with IFF antenna folded]]

To fire the missile, a BCU (Battery Coolant Unit) is inserted into the gripstock. This device consists of a supply of high-pressure gaseous [[argon]], which is injected into the seeker to cryogenically cool it to operating temperature, and a [[Molten-salt battery|thermal battery]], which provides power for target acquisition: a single BCU provides power and coolant for roughly 45&nbsp;seconds, after which another must be inserted if the missile has not been fired. The BCUs are somewhat sensitive to abuse and have a limited [[shelf life]] due to argon leakage. The IFF system receives power from a [[rechargeable battery]], which is part of the IFF interrogator box, which plugs into the base of the gripstock's pistol grip. Guidance to the target is initially through [[proportional navigation]], then switches to another mode that directs the missile towards the target [[airframe]] instead of its [[exhaust plume]].

There are three main variants in use: the Stinger Basic, Stinger-Passive Optical Seeker Technique (POST), and Stinger-Reprogrammable Microprocessor (RMP). These correspond to the FIM-92A, FIM-92B, and FIM-92C and later variants respectively.

The POST and RMP variants have a dual-detector seeker: [[infrared|IR]] and [[ultraviolet|UV]]. This allows it to distinguish targets from [[flare (countermeasure)|countermeasures]] much better than the [[FIM-43 Redeye|Redeye]] and FIM-92A, which have IR-only. While modern flares can have an IR signature that is closely matched to the launching aircraft's engine exhaust, there is a readily distinguishable difference in UV signature between flares and jet engines. The Stinger-RMP is so-called because of its ability to load a new set of software via [[Read-only memory|ROM]] chip inserted in the grip at the depot. If this download to the missile fails during power-up, basic functionality runs off the onboard ROM. The four-processor RMP has 4&nbsp;KB of [[random-access memory|RAM]] for each [[central processing unit|processor]]. Since the downloaded code runs from RAM, there is little space to spare, particularly for processors dedicated to seeker input processing and target analysis.