US approves Stinger MANPADS for Morocco

A file photo of US Army soldiers firing a Stinger MANPADS, which has now been approved for sale to Morocco. (US Army)

The United States has approved the sale to Morocco of RTX FIM-92K Stinger Block I anti-aircraft missiles for an estimated USD825 million.

The US Department of State approval announced on 15 April covers up to 600 short-range surface-to-air missiles, related equipment, training, and other services.

“Morocco intends to use these defence articles and services to modernise its armed forces and expand its existing army short-range air-defence options. This will contribute to the Royal Moroccan Army's goals of updating capability and further enhancing interoperability with the US and other allies,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

As noted by Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence , the latest FIM-92K variant of the Stinger was designed specifically for use with vehicle-based launch systems. The primary change was the inclusion of a datalink in the missile, which enables it to operate in lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) mode, receiving initial targeting information from the launch platform's infrared sensor, rather than the missile seeker.

Based on the FIM-92J, the FIM-92K has a range of between 0.2 km and 5 km, a maximum altitude of 12,467 ft, and a speed of 754.6 m/s (Mach 2.2). It is 1.47 m in length and weighs 10.4 kg. Besides its MANPADS role, the Stinger has been adapted into a vehicle-based short-range air-defence solution and also as an air-to-air missile for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force has previously been cleared to carry the AIM-92H Stinger air-to-air missile aboard its Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters, deliveries of which commenced in March.