AIM-92 Stinger: Encyclopedia II - AIM-92 Stinger - History

AIM-92 Stinger - History

The US Army has used the ATAS variant on its OH-58C Kiowa and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in the air-to-air role.

On the 19th of November 1996 a Stinger (ATAS) Block-1 missile was demonstrated was launched from a OH-58D piloted by CPT Bob Blanchett at Yuma Proving Ground and successfully destroyed a QUH-1 drone helicopter deploying countermeasures at a range greater than 4500 meters.

All Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS) Block II missiles will be modified existing Stinger RMP missiles (FIM-92C). Block II will incoporate various improvements including a new starring IR focal plane array seeker, a new battery, and advanced signal processing capabilities. The seeker permits engagements of helicopters in clutter out to the 8 km maximum physical range of the missile, also improved accuracy and IRCCM capabilities, and will provide a full night capability. The Block II missile also supports seeker slaving : steering the missiles seeker off axis before launch to lock onto targets). This was first demonstrated on the 6th November 1997 at Yuma.

ATAL is an upgrade to the Air-to-Air Stinger launcher fielded on the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior and Blackhawk helicopters. In mid 2000 tests where carried out with the ATAL system mounted on the AH-64 Apache Longbow helicopter. Nine missiles where fired, eight which scored direct hits against simulated hovering helicopter targets in a clutter environment. The missiles where launched with the Longbow helicopter travelling at speeds from hovering to 136 knots, slide slips up to 30 knots, partial power descents, pull-up manoeuvres, hovering petal turns, push-over manoeuvres, and a 22-degree bank.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "History", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki