The US Department of State has approved a potential sale of FIM-92K Stinger portable anti-aircraft missiles to Brazil for an estimated $330 million.
Brazil has requested 100 Stinger Block I missiles. The proposed sale also includes non-major defense equipment such as gripstocks, technical and logistics support services, and other related logistics and program support elements.
According to the Department of State, the sale will enhance Brazil’s air defense capabilities and support its defense modernization efforts. The proposed package “supports Brazil’s defense modernization efforts aimed at doing more for its own defense by securing South American airspace from illicit trafficking operations,” the department said in a press release.
RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin will serve as the principal contractors. No offset agreements have been proposed at this time.
Replacement for Igla-S
The Stinger will replace the Russian-origin Igla-S man-portable air defense system operated by the Brazilian Army since 2014.
Supplies of the Igla-S reportedly became increasingly difficult to obtain following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting Brazil to seek an alternative.
The shoulder-fired US system would complement Brazil’s Swedish-made RBS 70 NG short-range air defense system, which offers greater range and altitude coverage but relies on a tripod-mounted launcher.
FIM-92K Stinger
The FIM-92K Stinger is the latest operational variant of the US-made Stinger family, designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial systems at ranges of up to 8 kilometers (5 miles).
Developed under the Stinger Block I modernization program, the FIM-92K incorporates upgraded electronics, a datalink capability, and improved flight-control software.
These enhancements allow the missile to receive target cueing information from external sensors when integrated with vehicle-mounted air-defense systems, improving effectiveness against small, low-signature targets such as drones and cruise missiles.
The missile employs a passive infrared/ultraviolet homing seeker that tracks the heat and ultraviolet signatures emitted by a target. The dual-band seeker improves target discrimination and resistance to countermeasures such as flares while retaining the Stinger’s fire-and-forget capability.
