Raytheon has successfully demonstrated the Next Generation Short Range Interceptor (NGSRI), designed to replace the iconic FIM-92 Stinger missile after its 45-year reign as the West’s premier man-portable air-defense system. The new interceptor boosts speed to Mach 2.5, doubles engagement range, and introduces a high-resolution infrared seeker to counter modern drones and cruise missiles.
Few weapons carry a legacy as storied as the Stinger. Since entering U.S. Army service in 1981, this shoulder-fired missile has reshaped battles, altered wars, and even filtered into pop culture as a symbol of insurgent might and infantry resilience. Now, after decades of unmatched service, its successor is on the horizon—and it’s built for a radically different sky.
The Stinger’s brilliance lay in its simplicity and revolutionary seeker. Unlike earlier missiles that could only chase retreating aircraft, the Stinger’s infrared/ultraviolet optical seeker allowed a single soldier to engage targets head-on. Its battlefield impact was immediate and profound. During the Soviet-Afghan War, CIA-supplied Stingers in the hands of Mujahideen fighters shattered Soviet air dominance, forcing helicopters into cautious, high-altitude flight patterns. In the Falklands, British SAS operators famously downed Argentine jets using hastily read instructions. Most recently, thousands have been sent to Ukraine, straining global stockpiles and proving the system’s enduring value.
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The NGSRI addresses a pressing, evolving threat: the proliferation of low-signature drones, loitering munitions, and advanced cruise missiles that challenge older thermal seekers and limited kinematic performance.
In practical terms, the NGSRI maintains the core MANPADS role—a soldier can shoulder-fire it—but dramatically enhances capability. Its high-resolution infrared imaging seeker provides a sharper, more clutter-resistant lock, especially against small or low-flying drones. With a range of 8 km and speed of Mach 2.5, it outruns and outreaches the Stinger, while a new proximity fuze ensures near-misses can still destroy targets.
The original Stinger was developed by General Dynamics and is currently produced by Raytheon (RTX). Its successor, the NGSRI, is also a Raytheon program, driven by engineers at their Tucson, Arizona facilities under the leadership of Tom Laliberty, President of Land and Air Defense Systems. The company-funded test on February 2, 2026, validated the missile’s drone-tracking, motor performance, and ergonomic launcher design.
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Despite its advances, the NGSRI inherits a fundamental constraint of all MANPADS: it remains a point-defense weapon with limited range compared to larger vehicle or platform-based air defense systems. Its effectiveness is also tied to operator training and situational awareness, especially in congested electronic warfare environments.
The overarching value of this transition is maintaining infantry relevance in an era of pervasive aerial threats. The Stinger restored the foot soldier’s ability to challenge aircraft; the NGSRI aims to restore it against swarming drones and stealthier munitions. Its open-architecture, modular design also future-proofs the system, allowing software updates and hardware swaps to counter emerging threats without a full redesign.
Raytheon’s push comes at a critical time. The war in Ukraine has drained Stinger inventories, and restarting production of the 1980s-era design is challenging. As Tom Laliberty stated, the investment demonstrates Raytheon’s “commitment to equipping service members with this advanced capability” through “rapid learning and testing.” The goal is a cost-effective, superior interceptor that can be produced at scale.
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The Stinger’s retirement will be gradual, but its legend is secure—from covert CIA shipments to Hollywood thrillers like Licence to Kill. Yet, the battlefield has changed. When the next soldier shoulders the NGSRI, they’ll carry not just a new missile, but the weight of a legacy being carefully passed forward.
