The United States approved for the first time shipment of man-portable Stinger missiles to Ukraine as part of a package approved by the White House last Friday to support Ukrainian forces.
These types of projectiles are extremely effective in shooting down helicopters, aircraft that are used by the invading troops to attack Ukraine.
The missile uses an infrared seeker to lock in heat from the engine exhaust, and will hit almost anything flying below 3,000 meters. His official name is FIM-92 and are designed for ground troops to deal with low-flying enemy aircraft.
The missile and its launcher weigh about 15 kilos, which makes it an extremely light and easy-to-move weapon. These characteristics mean that a large number of troops are not required for its use. With just one uniformed officer, it is enough to use the Stinger missiles, which are launched from the shoulder. However, it hurts to be operated by two people.
Before firing the weapon, the soldier aims at the target. Once the seeker is set, he makes a characteristic sound. Pulling the trigger fires the missile. Then, the launch engine detaches and the solid rocket’s main engine ignites. The rocket propels the Stinger at about 1,500 miles per hour.
For now, the moment when the Stinger missiles will be delivered is unknown, but the authorities indicated that Washington is working on the logistics of the shipment. Estonia has been supplying Stingers to Ukraine since January, and in order to do so, it had to receive authorization from the United States.(I)
Source: Eluniverso
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