Raytheon Missiles & Defense has been awarded a $624 million (£494 million) US Army contract to produce 1,300 man-portable air-defense system Stinger missiles.

The contract includes provisions for engineering support, as well as the test equipment and support needed to address obsolescence, modernise key components, and accelerate production.

Ukraine

“We’re aligned with the US Army on a plan that ensures we fulfil our current foreign military sale order, while replenishing Stingers provided to Ukraine and accelerating production,” said Wes Kremer, president of Raytheon Missiles & Defense. “The funding will be used to enhance Stinger’s producibility in an effort to meet the urgent need for replenishment.”

The Stinger missile is a lightweight, self-contained air defence system that can be rapidly deployed by ground troops. Raytheon said its supersonic speed, agility and highly accurate guidance and control system give the weapon an “operational edge against cruise missiles and all classes of aircraft”.

US funding

The contract is being funded from the US government’s Ukraine Supplemental, which contains emergency funding to support Ukrainian defence forces. Raytheon Missiles & Defense said it continued to work closely with the US Army and its supplier partners to rapidly support the growing demand for Stinger.

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