AIM-92 Stinger

The AIM-92 Stinger or ATAS (Air To Air Stinger) or ATAL is an air-to-air missile developed from the shoulder-launched FIM-92 Stinger system, for use on helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache, Eurocopter Tiger and also UAVs such as the MQ-1 Predator. The missile itself is identical to the shoulder-launched Stinger.

History

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

In a 19 November 1996 demonstration, a Stinger (ATAS) Block-1 missile was launched from an 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 4,500 meters.

All Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS) Block II missiles will be modified existing Stinger RMP missiles (FIM-92C). Block II will incorporate various improvements including a new staring 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 missile's seeker off-axis before launch to lock onto targets). This was first demonstrated on 6 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 were carried out with the ATAL system mounted on the AH-64 Apache "Longbow" helicopter. Nine missiles were fired, eight which scored direct hits against simulated hovering helicopter targets in a clutter environment. The missiles were 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 pedal turns, push-over manoeuvres, and a 22-degree bank.

General characteristics (Block I)

"As FIM-92A Stinger"
* Length : 1.52 m (59.8 in.)
* Diameter : 70 mm (2.8 in.)
* Wingspan : 140 mm (5.5 in.)
* Launch weight : 16 kg
* Guidance : Passive IR
* Warhead : 3 kg HE blast fragmentation
* Propulsion : Solid propellant
* Speed : Mach 2.2 (750 m/s)
* Range : 200 m to (at least) 4.5 km

Models

*Block I
*Block II Maximum range 8 km against hovering targets.