Editing FIM-92 Stinger (section)

==History==
[[File:Launched FIM-92A Stinger missile.jpg|thumb|A U.S. Marine fires a FIM-92 Stinger missile during a July 2009 training exercise in California.]]

[[File:Fennek reconnaissance vehicle of 340th ASELSAN MFR C0415, pic1.JPG|thumb|4 Stinger missiles on a Dutch Army [[Fennek]] reconnaissance vehicle.]]

The missile began as a program by [[General Dynamics]] to produce an improved variant of their 1967 [[FIM-43 Redeye]]. Production of the Redeye ran from 1969 to 1982, with a total production of around 85,000 missiles. The program was accepted for further development as Redeye II by the U.S. Army in 1971 and designated FIM-92; the ''Stinger'' appellation was chosen in 1972. Because of technical difficulties that dogged testing, the first shoulder launch was not until mid-1975. Production of the FIM-92A began in 1978. An improved Stinger with a new seeker, the FIM-92B, was produced from 1983 alongside the FIM-92A. Production of both the A and B types ended in 1987 with around 16,000 missiles produced.

The replacement FIM-92C began development in 1984, and production began in 1987. The first examples were delivered to frontline units in 1989. C-type missiles were fitted with a reprogrammable microprocessor, allowing for incremental [[firmware]] updates. Later missiles designated D received improvements to improve their ability to defeat countermeasures, and later upgrades to the D were designated G.

The FIM-92E or Stinger RMP Block I was developed from 1992 and delivered from 1995 (certain sources state that the FIM-92D is also part of the Block I development). The main changes were again in the sensor and the software, improving the missile's performance against low-signature targets. A software upgrade in 2001 was designated FIM-92F. The development of the Stinger RMP Block II began in 1996 using a new focal plane array sensor to improve the missile's effectiveness in "high clutter" environments and increase the engagement range to about 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Production was scheduled for 2004, but was cancelled due to budget cuts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raytheon FIM-92 Stinger |url=http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-92.html |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.designation-systems.net}}</ref>

Since 1984 the Stinger has been issued to many [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] [[warship]]s for [[point defense]], particularly in [[Middle East]]ern waters, with a three-man team that can perform other duties when not conducting Stinger training or maintenance. Until it was decommissioned in September 1993, the U.S. Navy had at least one Stinger Gunnery Detachment attached to Beachmaster Unit Two in Little Creek Virginia. The sailors of this detachment would deploy to [[carrier battlegroup]]s in teams of two to four sailors per ship as requested by Battle Group Commanders.

===Replacement===
The original Stinger's reprogrammable microprocessor has become obsolete in 2023, and a service life extension will keep the Block I in service until 2030. With the arsenal declining from obsolescence, on 10 November 2020 the U.S. Army issued a request for information for a replacement MANPADS. The new system will be compatible with the Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher used on the [[Stryker#SHORAD|IM-SHORAD]] and be able to defeat fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as [[U.S. military UAS groups|Group 2 and 3 UAS]] as well as or better than the Stinger. A contract for up to 8,000 missiles is planned to be awarded by 2026.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/air-dominance/us-army-opens-5-year-search-stinger-missile-replacement |title=U.S. Army Opens 5-Year Search For Stinger Missile Replacement |work=[[Aviation Week]] |date=11 November 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/army-stringer-missile-replacement |title=The Army is hunting for a replacement for its man-portable Stinger missile |work=Task & Purpose |date=14 November 2020}}</ref> The request for information to interested firms only went out in April 2022,<ref>{{cite news |last=Saballa |first=Joe |title= US Army Seeks Aging Stinger Missiles Replacement |url= https://www.thedefensepost.com/2022/04/08/us-army-stinger-replacement/ |access-date=16 April 2022 |work=The Defense Post |date=8 April 2022}}</ref> and [[RTX_Corporation|RTX]] and [[Lockheed Martin]] were selected to competitively develop the Stinger replacement in September 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2023/10/09/us-army-pursues-faster-more-survivable-stinger-missile-replacement/ |title=US Army pursues faster, more survivable Stinger missile replacement |work=[[Defense News]] |first=Jen |last=Judson |date=9 October 2023 |access-date=2024-04-13}}</ref>

According to Reuters, the U.S. government has signed a contract for 1,468 Stingers worth a total of $687 million, to replenish stock sent to Ukraine.<ref name=2023refill/> Raytheon Chief Executive Greg Hayes said on 26 April 2022: "Some of the components are no longer commercially available, and so we're going to have to go out and redesign some of the electronics in the missile of the seeker head. That's going to take us a little bit of time".<ref name=2023refill>{{cite news |title= US buys more Stingers to refill stock sent to Ukraine: Report |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/5/27/us-buys-more-stingers-to-refill-stock-sent-to-ukraine-reuters |access-date=27 May 2022 |publisher= Al Jazeera|date=27 May 2022}}</ref>

In January 2023, the U.S. Army said it expected to increase Stinger production to 60 missiles per month by 2025, an increase of 50% from the current rate. The Dual Detector Assembly (DDA) will be redesigned because a previous DDA part is no longer being made. The old DDA will continue to be used in production up until stocks are exhausted, which is expected by 2026 when deliveries of Stingers with the new component are expected to begin.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=25 January 2023|title=Stinger missile production to rise 50% by 2025, US Army says|url=https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/stinger-missile-production-to-rise-50-by-2025-us-army-says|access-date=|website=[[Janes Information Services]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125194111/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/stinger-missile-production-to-rise-50-by-2025-us-army-says|archive-date=25 January 2023|url-status=live}}</ref>