US firm to double production of key missile that offers 90% success rate
The announcement reflects a broader trend across the global defense industry, where manufacturers are expanding production lines. (Representational image)Stocktrek/RTXA Virginia-based company is set to. . .
The announcement reflects a broader trend across the global defense industry, where manufacturers are expanding production lines. (Representational image)Stocktrek/RTXA Virginia-based company is set to increase its missile production in response to growing global demand. Raytheon working with European companies, including Diehl Defence, to double Stinger missile production. RTX maintains that the Stinger missile is a lightweight, combat-proven and self-contained air defense system deployed by ground troops against cruise missiles and aircraft. Stinger is the preferred surface-to-air missile for 24 countries, including 10 NATO members. Laser-focused on doubling Stinger missile production capacity“We are laser-focused on doubling our Stinger missile production capacity,”saidTom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “Expanding Stinger production in Europe strengthens our industrial base and broadens our global network, ensuring our allies have reliable access to this critical air defense capability. ”RTX has also highlighted that the expanded production capacity in Europe will help support future work with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, known as the NSPA, to meet European demand. Working with Raytheon, Diehl Defence will produce the guidance section, a key component of the Stinger missile, and source related subcomponents from across Europe. Raytheon is also working with key Dutch suppliers to produce additional major Stinger assemblies. The final Stinger missile will be assembled, tested and completed in the Netherlands,according toa press release. “We are proud to work together once again on Stinger, where we previously produced relevant parts of the missile,” said Helmut Rauch, Diehl Defence CEO. “Producing the guidance section for new Stinger systems marks another strong chapter of cooperation between Diehl Defence and Raytheon. ”Missile proved its efficacy in multiple conflictsCombat proven in numerous conflicts, the weapon has hundreds of fixed- and rotary-wing intercepts to its credit and has been adopted by 25 nations and all four U. S. military services, according to the company. RTX has also revealed that the Stinger-Reprogrammable Microprocessor, or RMP, missile has a greater than 90 percent success rate in reliability and training tests. Its supersonic speed, agility and a highly accurate guidance and control system give the weapon an operational edge against cruise missiles and all classes of aircraft. The system is also used on Apache helicopters for air-to-air engagements. In 2019, the U. S. Army began retrofitting its Stinger missiles with proximity fuzes, which allow missiles to destroy unmanned airborne systems with direct hits or by detonating near them. A pair of Stinger missiles intercepted two drones using proximity fuzes during an Army test in 2017. The modified missile offers ground troops better defense against small, agile threats, according to RTX. The announcement reflects a broader trend across the global defense industry, where manufacturers are expanding production lines to address rising demand driven by changing geopolitical conditions and increased defense spending among NATO members and partner nations. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox. Prabhat, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, is a tech and defense journalist. While he enjoys writing on modern weapons and emerging tech, he has also reported on global politics and business. He has been previously associated with well-known media houses, including the International Business Times (Singapore Edition) and ANI.