MANPADS (Stinger/Igla class)
Kinetic
Man-Portable Air Defense Systems — shoulder-fired guided missiles originally designed for aircraft. Can engage larger drones at altitude. Expensive per engagement but highly effective against medium/large UAVs.
How It Works
Infrared or UV homing missile launched from a shoulder tube. The seeker head locks onto the heat signature of the target's engine/exhaust. After launch, the missile guides autonomously to impact.
Technical Specifications
range
1-6 km, altitude up to 4,500 m
cost
$40,000-$120,000 per missile
deployment Time
30 seconds from alert
crew Required
1-2 soldiers
weight
15-20 kg (loaded launcher)
power Requirement
Battery/coolant unit
Advantages
- + Highly effective against medium/large drones
- + Man-portable with trained crew
- + Proven technology — decades of service
- + Works against all heat-producing targets
- + High probability of kill on lock
Disadvantages
- − Extremely expensive per shot vs drone cost
- − Overkill for small commercial drones
- − Limited magazine (single shot per launcher)
- − Cannot lock onto small cold electric drones
- − Seeker needs sufficient heat signature
- − Training intensive
Tactical Deployment Tips
- ▸ Reserve for large, high-value drone threats
- ▸ Do not waste on small quadcopters
- ▸ Position to cover drone approach corridors at altitude
- ▸ Best against loitering munitions and MALE UAVs
Limitations & Vulnerabilities
- ⚠ Cannot engage small electric drones (no heat signature)
- ⚠ Cost-prohibitive for most drone threats
- ⚠ Limited inventory — must prioritize targets
Drones It Defeats
Drone types ranked by how well this system defeats them — tap any drone for details
Large Loitering MunitionHighMALE / HALE Strategic UAVMediumHeavy-Lift Cargo / Resupply UAVMediumJet-Powered UCAVMediumTactical Fixed-Wing UAVLowSmall Loitering MunitionLowAI-Autonomous Strike DroneLowDecoy / Electronic Warfare DroneLowCommercial COTS QuadcopterNoneMilitary Reconnaissance QuadcopterNoneFPV Kamikaze DroneNoneHeavy-Lift FPV BomberNoneFiber-Optic Guided FPVNoneCoordinated Drone SwarmNoneNaval USV / UUVNoneMini ISR Fixed-WingNoneTethered Surveillance DroneNoneVTOL Fixed-Wing HybridNoneMicro / Nano DroneNoneCBRN / Hazmat DroneNoneHigh-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite (HAPS)None
ⓘ No public sources attached — values are doctrinal generalizations, not intelligence assessments.