Raytheon, Diehl Defence to Co-Produce Stinger Missiles in Europe

Raytheon and Germany’s Diehl Defence have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-produce key components of the Stinger missile in Europe.

The agreement, announced on August 19, sets the framework for extending Stinger missile production at Diehl Defence facilities as part of its long-term expansion strategy.

Diehl Defence is evaluating options to expand production capacity at both existing and new locations. Raytheon has overseen upgrades throughout the program’s lifecycle, focusing on guidance and control systems to maintain operational effectiveness.

The Stinger is a man-portable, surface-to-air missile widely used for short-range air defense. It is deployed by ground forces against cruise missiles, drones, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. The missile has a range of about 4.8 km, a maximum speed of Mach 2.2, and uses infrared homing guidance to track and engage targets. It is typically fired from the FIM-92 launcher and has a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing around 3 kg.