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MANPADS (Stinger/Igla class)

KineticOpen-Source Referenced

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 detailsi

Large Loitering MunitionHighOne-Way Attack Cruise DroneHighMALE / HALE Strategic UAVMediumHeavy-Lift Cargo / Resupply UAVMediumJet-Powered UCAVMediumMothership / Carrier UAVMediumSea-Skimming Attack USVMediumTactical Fixed-Wing UAVLowSmall Loitering MunitionLowAI-Autonomous Strike DroneLowDecoy / Electronic Warfare DroneLowWinged Glide MunitionLowConverted Agricultural Heavy-LiftLowAdversary Interceptor DroneLowKinetic Impact / Ramming DroneLowContainerized Swarm Launcher / Modular Launch PodLowCommercial 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)NoneAcoustic-Stealth RotaryNone

Sources & Further Reading

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