Various kinds of weapons were poured by the United States and NATO countries in order to help Ukraine ward off Russian attacks. One of them is a hero anti-aircraft missile named Stinger.
As quoted by CNN, Tuesday (8/3/2022) the US and NATO members have so far delivered 2,000 units of FIM-92 Stinger missiles to the Ukrainian side. Some of the missiles have already been used, reportedly knocking a Russian military helicopter near Kyiv into flames.
"I think we are all very impressed with the effectiveness of the Ukrainian armed forces in using the equipment we provide them with," the US Department of Defense official said.
Stinger itself is made by the US company, Raytheon Missile Systems. This surface-to-air missile has been in use since 1981 and is relied upon by the US and 29 other countries. More than 700 thousand Stinger missiles have been produced in various variants and have been relied on in various battlefields.
This missile can shoot down helicopters, but can also target low-flying aircraft, drones, and missiles fired by the enemy.
The Stinger is easy to operate, requires no intensive training, with a firing range of more than 4 kilometers. It can be carried by soldiers and fired, or it can be placed in a tactical vehicle.
The size of the missile is 1.52 meters long, 70 mm and fins 100 mm. Stinger weighs 10.1 kilograms and this missile can be used in all weather.
In the war in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union in the 1980s, the Stinger became the main weapon of the militants there. Reportedly, 250 Soviet Union military aircraft were shot down by this missile.
"The Stinger can be used in urban combat where the crew operating it can hide in bunkers or buildings and shoot down helicopters and low-flying aircraft," military observers said.