Raytheon and Diehl agree Stinger co-production in Europe

Raytheon, part of RTX, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany’s Diehl Defence to co-produce key components of the Stinger short-range air defence missile in Europe, the company stated.

The agreement sets the basis for expanding Stinger production capacity at Diehl Defence facilities. The missile is widely used across NATO, with Germany and nine other Alliance members among its 24 operators.

“Stinger is the surface-to-air missile of choice for 24 countries, including Germany and nine other NATO members. We are seeing historically high demand for Stinger because of its unrivaled effectiveness and success against a variety of short-range threats,” said Tom Laliberty, president of Land & Air Defense Systems at Raytheon.

Helmut Rauch, CEO of Diehl Defence, said the deal builds on the company’s existing strengths. “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,” he said.

The Stinger is a man-portable, shoulder-fired system designed for use against low-flying aircraft and cruise missiles. According to Raytheon, continuous upgrades to its guidance and control system have kept it effective across a range of short-range aerial threats.

Diehl Defence said it is reviewing options to expand its production capacity both at current facilities and potentially at new locations.