The acclaimed expert Steven J. Zaloga tracks the development, combat use, and influence of man-portable air defense systems from the late 1960s to the present. The first efforts to develop a man-portable air defense system (MANPADS) based on guided missiles began in the mid-1950s as a response to the increased speed and agility of jet aircraft. This book maps the technological evolution of MANPADS and explores their combat use and the lessons from these encounters. In addition to discussing the missiles, it also examines the various countermeasures developed to counter the MANPADS threat.

The first generation of MANPADS, such as the U.S. Army's Redeye and the Soviet Strela-2 (SA-7 Grail), was used in combat during the Vietnam War in 1972 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. The next generation of infrared-guided MANPADS, such as the U.S. Stinger and the Soviet Igla, emerged after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Since the 1970s, MANPADS have been used in countless wars, border skirmishes, civil wars, and insurgencies. Featuring specially commissioned artworks and carefully selected photographs, this study narrates the history of these deadly weapons, from their roots to their use today.

Pages: 80, Year of Publication: 0530, Dimensions: 18.4x18.4cm