How to recognise shoulder-fired air defence (MANPADS)
7 shoulder-fired air defence (MANPADS) in Spotrep’s field guide, each with a photo, where it comes from, who uses it and the details that tell it apart from the rest.
Practise in Classic- FIM-92 StingerMANPADS · USA
Long tube with a fold-up box-shaped IFF antenna and a grip stock under the middle.
- RBS 70MANPADS · Sweden
Laser beam-riding missile fired from a tube on a tripod stand; the gunner sits behind a large sight.
- No photo yet9K32 Strela-2MANPADS · Soviet Union
Simple, slim olive shoulder tube with a ring sight and a small battery under the front; older and thinner than the Igla.
- No photo yet9K38 IglaMANPADS · Soviet Union
Long tube with a cylindrical battery unit in front of the grip and a spiked nose on the missile.
- No photo yetMistralMANPADS · France
Missile tube on a light tripod post with a seat for the gunner and a box sight; not fired from the shoulder.
- No photo yetPiorunMANPADS · Poland
Shoulder-launched tube in the Igla style: gripstock under the tube, a battery unit at the front of the grip and often a thermal sight on the side.
- No photo yetStarstreakMANPADS · United Kingdom
Shoulder-launched tube with a large aiming unit clamped on; also fired from a three-round lightweight launcher.
