Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS or MPADS) are shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). They are typically guided weapons and are a threat to low-flying aircraft, especially helicopters.
MANPADS were originally developed in the late 1950s to provide military ground forces protection from enemy aircraft. They have received a great deal of attention as potential terrorist weapons that might be used against commercial airliners. These missiles, affordable and widely available through a variety of sources, have been used successfully over the past three decades both in military conflicts, as well as by terrorist organizations. They can be purchased on the black market anywhere from a few hundred dollars (USD) for older models to upwards of almost a quarter million dollars for newer, more capable models. Twenty-five countries, including the United States, produce man-portable air defense systems. Possession, export, and trafficking in such weapons is officially tightly controlled, due to the threat they pose to civil aviation, although such efforts have not always been successful.
The missiles are about 5 to 6 feet (180 cm) in length and weigh about 35 to 40 pounds (18 kg), depending on the model. Shoulder-fired SAMs generally have a target detection range of about 6 miles (10 km) and an engagement range of about 4 miles (6 km), so aircraft flying at 20,000 feet (6,100 m) (3.8 miles) or higher are relatively safe. The acronym MANPADS is commonly mistaken to have a singular form of "MANPAD" -- this is incorrect, as even a singular unit is still a system and would have the final S in the acronym.
List of Man Portable Air Defense Systems:
MANPADS were originally developed in the late 1950s to provide military ground forces protection from enemy aircraft. They have received a great deal of attention as potential terrorist weapons that might be used against commercial airliners. These missiles, affordable and widely available through a variety of sources, have been used successfully over the past three decades both in military conflicts, as well as by terrorist organizations. They can be purchased on the black market anywhere from a few hundred dollars (USD) for older models to upwards of almost a quarter million dollars for newer, more capable models. Twenty-five countries, including the United States, produce man-portable air defense systems. Possession, export, and trafficking in such weapons is officially tightly controlled, due to the threat they pose to civil aviation, although such efforts have not always been successful.
The missiles are about 5 to 6 feet (180 cm) in length and weigh about 35 to 40 pounds (18 kg), depending on the model. Shoulder-fired SAMs generally have a target detection range of about 6 miles (10 km) and an engagement range of about 4 miles (6 km), so aircraft flying at 20,000 feet (6,100 m) (3.8 miles) or higher are relatively safe. The acronym MANPADS is commonly mistaken to have a singular form of "MANPAD" -- this is incorrect, as even a singular unit is still a system and would have the final S in the acronym.
List of Man Portable Air Defense Systems:
| MPAD | Picture | Specifications | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiron |  | South Korea | 2005 | |
| Misagh-2 | Iran | 2005 | ||
| FN-6 |  | China | 2000 | |
| Starstreak |  | UK | 1997 | |
| Grom |  | Poland | 1995 | |
| Type 91 |  | Japan | 1994 | |
| Misagh-1 |  | Iran | 1993 | |
| QW-2 Vanguard 2 |  | China | 1990 | |
| QW-1 Vanguard |  | China | 1990 | |
| Anza |  | Pakistan | 1989 | |
| Starburst |  | UK | 1989 | |
| Mistral |  | France | 1988 | |
| 9K38 Igla |  | Soviet Union | 1983 | |
| Javelin |  | UK | 1983 | |
| FIM-92 Stinger |  | US | 1981 | |
| RBS 70 |  | Sweden | 1977 | |
| Blowpipe |  | UK | 1975 | |
| 9K34 Strela-3 |  | Soviet Union | 1974 | |
| FIM-43 Redeye |  | US | 1968 | |
| Strela 2 |  | Soviet Union | 1968 |
