MANPADS in Modern Warfare: The Impact of Stinger and Igla Systems

In the pantheon of giant ICBMs and massive radar trucks, there is a small, unassuming tube that strikes more fear into the hearts of pilots than anything else.

It is the Man-Portable Air-Defense System (MANPADS).

Weighing roughly 15-20kg, operable by a single soldier, and costing a fraction of a fighter jet, MANPADS are the ultimate asymmetric weapon. They turned the tide of the Soviet-Afghan war in the 80s (Stinger) and denied Russia air superiority in Ukraine in 2022 (Stinger, Igla, Starstreak).

This detailed guide explores the technology of “shoulder-fired” missiles, comparing the American FIM-92 Stinger and the Russian 9K38 Igla/Verba, and analyzing how these tiny heat-seekers continue to shape the tactics of modern air power.

How MANPADS Work: The Heat Seeker

The defining feature of a MANPADS is the Infrared (IR) Seeker.

1. The Lock: The operator aims the tube at the aircraft. The seeker (cooled by argon gas to reduce its own temperature) looks for the hot exhaust of the jet engine against the cold sky.

2. The Tone: When the seeker “bites” the heat signature, it makes a distinctive “growl” or tone in the operator’s headset.

3. Launch: The operator pulls the trigger.

Eject Motor: A small charge pops the missile out of the tube (so the rocket fire doesn’t burn the soldier).

Flight Motor: About 10 meters away, the main rocket ignites, accelerating to Mach 2.2+.

4. Guidance: The missile uses “Proportional Navigation.” It doesn’t fly to where the plane is; it flies to where the plane will be. It predicts the intercept.

The Champion: FIM-92 Stinger (USA)

Famous for its role in Afghanistan (Charlie Wilson’s War), the Stinger is the Gold Standard.

Seeker: Rosette Scan Seeker (Dual Color: IR and UV).

IR/UV: By seeing both Infrared (Heat) and Ultraviolet (Shadow), the Stinger can distinguish between the real engine and Flares. Flares are hot (IR) but they don’t block the sun (UV) like a plane does. This makes the Stinger incredibly resistant to countermeasures.

Warhead: 3kg High Explosive.

Range: ~4.8 km (Altitude ~3 km).

Influence: In Ukraine, the sheer volume of Stingers provided forced Russian jets to fly low (to avoid long-range SAMs) directly into the teeth of the MANPADS envelope.

The Challenger: 9K38 Igla-S / 9K333 Verba (Russia)

Russia (and the Soviet Union) produced the Strela and Igla series.

Igla-S (Needle):

Aerospike: Has a distinctive tripod spike on the nose to reduce drag.

Range: ~6 km (Slightly better than Stinger).

Seeker: Dual-band IR.

The Verba: The new generation.

Tri-Mode Seeker: Uses Ultraviolet, Near-IR, and Mid-IR. This makes it arguably even harder to fool than the Stinger.

Networking: A Verba operator can wear a headset that connects to a radar command grid, telling him where to look before he even sees the plane.

The British Usage: Starstreak

The UK sent the Starstreak to Ukraine, which is unique.

Laser Guided: It is NOT a heat seeker. The operator must keep the crosshairs on the target (Beam Riding). This means flares do not work against it.

Speed: Mach 4 (Fastest MANPADS).

Darts: Instead of one warhead, it separates into three tungsten darts. These hit with kinetic energy, tearing helicopters apart.

The Impact on Tactics

The proliferation of MANPADS has forced air forces to adapt.

1. Fly High: Stay above 15,000 feet (above the MANPADS ceiling). But this makes it hard to identify targets on the ground and hit tanks.

2. DIRCM: Directional Infrared Counter Measures. Modern helicopters use lasers to shine directly into the missile’s seeker eye, blinding it.

3. Pre-Emptive Flares: Helicopters popping flares constantly while landing/taking off “just in case.”

The Terror Threat

The nightmare scenario for security agencies is a MANPADS in the hands of a terrorist near a civilian airport.

Commercial Airliners: Are huge heat sources. During takeoff/landing, they are slow and low.

Control: This is why MANPADS exports are strictly controlled. Stingers sent to Ukraine were often geo-fenced or had limited battery lives, though the risk of them ending up on the black market remains a global concern.

Conclusion

MANPADS are the great equalizer. They allow a $100 infantryman to destroy a $20 million helicopter. While technology evolves, the physics of a heat-seeking missile chasing a hot jet engine remains a fundamental constant of warfare. As seen in Ukraine, no air force can claim Total Air Superiority as long as there is a soldier in a bush with a Stinger on his shoulder.

Disclaimer: Technical comparison based on Jane’s Infantry Weapons and declassified DoD reports.