Shanmugam Ias Academy

MANPADS

Why in News?

The United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are shipping weapons into Ukraine

Countries such as India, Pakistan, Germany, UK, Turkey and Israel have also used MANPADS in their defence efforts.
Russia is by far the biggest exporter of MANPADs
MANPADS are short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy aircraft or helicopters.
They help shield troops from aerial attacks and are most effective in targeting low-flying aircrafts.
- - MANPATs or Man-Portable Anti-Tank Systems work in a similar manner but are used to destroy or incapacitate military tanks.
MANPADS have a maximum range of 8 kilometers 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.
They are fairly lightweight as compared to other elaborate weapon systems, making them easy to operate by individual soldiers.
They can be shoulder-fired, launched from atop a ground-vehicle, fired from a tripod or stand, and from a helicopter or boat.
Most of the MANPADS are ‘fire and forget’ guidance systems.
The missiles are fitted with infrared (IR) seekers that identify and target the airborne vehicle through heat radiation being emitted by the latter.

BEST IAS ACADEMY IN COIMBATORE

Current Affairs