FIM-43 Redeye | |
---|---|
![]() Inert FIM-43 Redeye | |
Type | Man-portable surface-to-air missile |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
In service | 1967–1995 |
Used by | See Operators |
Wars | Vietnam War Soviet–Afghan War Nicaraguan Revolution Lebanese Civil War War in Afghanistan Salvadoran Civil War Mali War[1] |
Production history | |
Designer | Convair |
Designed | July 1959 |
Manufacturer | General Dynamics |
Produced | 1962–1971[2][non-primary source needed][disputed – discuss] |
No. built | 85,000 |
Variants | See Variants |
Specifications (FIM-43 Redeye) | |
Mass | 8.3 kg (18.3 lb) |
Length | 1.20 m (3 ft 11.5 in) |
Diameter | 70 mm (2.75 in) |
Crew | 1 |
Effective firing range | 4,500 m (14,800 ft) |
Warhead | M222 Blast-fragmentation |
Warhead weight | 1.06 kg (2.35 lb) |
Detonation mechanism | Impact Fuze |
Engine | First stage – Booster (Ejector): 3.3 kN (750 lbf) for 0.048 s Second stage – Sustainer: 1.1 kN (250 lbf) for 5.8 s |
Maximum speed | Mach 1.7 (580 m/s) |
Guidance system | Infrared homing |
The General Dynamics FIM-43 Redeye is a man-portable surface-to-air missile system. It uses passive infrared homing to track its target. Production began in 1962 and – in anticipation of the Redeye II, which later became the FIM-92 Stinger – ended in the early 1970s (delivery of the last Redeye for the US Army was completed in July 1971)[2][3] after about 85,000 rounds had been built. The Redeye was withdrawn gradually between 1982 and 1995 as the Stinger was deployed, though it remained in service with various armed forces of the world until quite recently,[when?] being supplied via the Foreign Military Sales program. It was initially banned from being sold overseas, to avoid missiles falling into the hands of terrorist organizations. However, after the export ban was lifted, the weapon was never actually used by terrorists against civil aircraft, in contrast with other MANPADS. While the Redeye and 9K32 Strela-2 (SA-7) were similar, the missiles were not identical. Nonetheless, the CIA concluded that the Soviet SA-7 had benefited from the Redeye's development.[4]
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty |title=
(help)