MANPADS

Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) are lightweight, shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles designed for use by individual soldiers or small teams. These weapons typically weigh less than 20 kilograms, use passive infrared seekers to home in on the heat signature of aircraft engines, and have effective ranges of 4-6 kilometers against targets at altitudes up to about 3,500 meters.

The FIM-92 Stinger is the most widely known MANPADS, famous for its devastating use by Afghan mujahideen against Soviet helicopters and aircraft during the 1980s. The Stinger's infrared seeker locks onto the heat of an aircraft's exhaust, and after launch, the missile autonomously tracks and intercepts the target. Other notable MANPADS include Russia's Igla series and China's FN-6.

MANPADS represent a serious proliferation concern because their portability makes them easy to smuggle and their effectiveness against low-flying aircraft, including commercial airliners, makes them attractive to terrorist groups. Numerous attempts to shoot down civilian aircraft with MANPADS have been documented. Governments worldwide monitor MANPADS proliferation closely, and significant diplomatic effort goes into preventing these weapons from reaching non-state actors.