Context
The US and NATO allies are rushing arms shipments to Ukraine at an increased pace since, and even before, Moscow’s military assault to help Ukrainian troops counter the significantly well-equipped Russian military’s attacks.
What are MANPADS?
- Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems are short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles.
- They can be fired to destroy aircraft or helicopters.
- MANPADS can be shoulder-fired, launched from atop a ground-vehicle, fired from a tripod or stand, and from a helicopter or boat.
- Weight: Weighing anywhere between 10 to 20 kilograms and not being longer than 1.8 metres.
- Range: MANPADS have a maximum range of 8 kilometres and can engage targets at altitudes of 4.5 km.
- The first MANPADS were introduced by the United States and Soviet Union in the 1960s. Russian and U.S. MANPADS were also used during the Vietnam war.
- The U.S. supplied MANPADS to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s, which the latter used against the Soviet forces.
- Countries such as India, Pakistan, Germany, U.K., Turkey and Israel have also used MANPADS in their defence efforts.
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