How the US Army is experimenting with giving its shoulder-launched Stinger missiles a much longer reach

The Army said the focus of the program has been on solid-fueled ramjet technology, a dual propulsion cycle that starts with a conventional solid rocket motor to boost the missile to supersonic speed. Once the booster ultimately burns out, outside air enters the combustion chamber through a port at the front of Stinger's solid fuel rocket motor, rather than being stored on board, and ignites the ramjet fuel. For instance, the US made the uneasy decision to share the missile with US-backed Afghan rebels to help erode the Soviet Union's control of the air.

Author: Chris Panella

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