Raytheon, an RTX business, and Germany’s Diehl Defence have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-produce key components of the Stinger missile in Europe. The agreement establishes a framework for expanding Stinger production at Diehl Defence facilities as part of the company’s ongoing growth strategy.
“Stinger is the surface-to-air missile of choice for 24 countries, including Germany and nine other NATO members,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon. “We are seeing historically high demand for Stinger because of its unrivaled effectiveness and success against a variety of short-range threats.”
The Stinger system is a man-portable, short-range air defense weapon used against cruise missiles and aircraft. It has been widely deployed by ground forces across multiple regions.
“For Diehl Defence, relaunching production for Stinger missiles builds on our proven capabilities and expertise in that product range and fits seamlessly in our strong standing on the market for ground-based air defence systems,” said Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence.
According to the company, options are being assessed to expand production capacity at current sites and potentially new locations.
Raytheon has continued to modernize the Stinger over its service life, particularly in guidance and control, to maintain effectiveness against evolving threats.