M1097 Avenger
The M1097 Avenger - Air Defense System is an American weapon system which is used by both the US Army and the US Marine Corps as a short-range mobile air defense system against cruise missiles , drones , low-flying aircraft and helicopters. The M1097 has been in use since 1989 .
The Avenger System is one of the defense systems that were deployed around the Pentagon after the September 11, 2001 attacks .
The M1097 is built by Boeing and AM General .
properties
The weapon system consists of a gyro-stabilized anti-aircraft tower mounted on a Humvee . The tower has two launch magazines for Stinger missiles , both of which are able to fire four so-called fire-and-forget missiles in quick succession . The Avenger can be connected to an external reconnaissance system for easier targeting. In addition, some series have been specially reinforced in terms of construction to accommodate more ammunition.
Sensors
- Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR)
- Laser rangefinder
- Optical visor
weapons
- 4/8 ready -to- fire FIM-92 Stinger missiles
- 1 M3P machine gun (modified M2 ); Caliber .50 with an electronic trigger that can be operated from the driver's seat and from the cockpit of the Avenger
Improved versions
Due to the lack of a threat from the air in Iraq and the great need for vehicles for, for example, defending convoys, the Avenger was pushed into this role. A combination of the sensors and the .50 caliber machine gun has proven to be very effective, but the gun cannot be used in the range of 270 to 18 degrees because the Humvee's cab is in the way here. In addition, the ammunition supply is limited to 200 rounds.
As part of a change program, a launch magazine for the rockets was removed and the machine gun was placed in this position to provide an all-round field of fire. In addition, the possible ammunition intake has been increased to 650 cartridges. Another possible variant for the future would have a capacity of 600 cartridges, only one Stinger magazine and 2 FGM-148 Javelin missiles. Although this variant is hoped for by soldiers, it is unlikely that this variant will ever be used due to the restructuring of the US Army's air defense forces into combined air and missile defense.
Technical specifications
- Length: 4.95 meters
- Weight: 4.3 tons
- Crew: 2
- Speed (road): 89 km / h
- Range: 443 kilometers
- Primary weapon: 4/8 FIM-92 Stinger missiles
- Secondary weapon: .50 M3P machine gun
- Motor output: 110 kW or 150 PS
Web links
- Army Fact File (English)
- Avenger (Pedestal Mounted Stinger) on Globalsecurity.org (English)