US defense giant Raytheon has joined forces with Diehl Defence of Germany to bolster production of the Stinger missile in Europe. The agreement, formalized by a memorandum of understanding, will focus on enhancing manufacturing capacity for the decades-old system. Designed to neutralize drones, helicopters, and other low-flying aircraft, the Stinger remains a vital short-range air defense solution.
Speaking on the deal, Diehl CEO Helmut Rauch stressed that resuming production underscores the firm’s proven strength in missile systems and complements its established presence in ground-based air defense markets.
The Stinger has a long service history dating back to 1981, though production had largely ceased for about 20 years. Its revival was prompted by urgent operational needs, particularly the Russia-Ukraine war, where Washington has supplied Kyiv with over 3,000 missiles. The global proliferation of drones has also heightened interest in such portable air defense systems.
Elsewhere, the missile has gained traction in the Indo-Pacific, where Taiwan has been stockpiling units amid strained relations with China. The US is considering authorizing local production for Taiwan to reinforce deterrence. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is extending the life of existing missiles—refurbishing nearly 1,900 in the past year—even as it advances work on the Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor (NGSRI) as a future replacement.
