On Arrows and Needles

摘要

In the local conflicts that flare up in the current world situation, man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS) have become the major threat to airpower. Simple, cheap, easy-to-use, non-suppressible and effective, MANPADS are ideal for numerous "rouge countries" and terrorist organizations. The Soviet Union created a family of increasingly effective (and available) MANPADS systems. The Strela-2 (SA-7) and -3 (SA-14), Igla-1 (SA-16), and Igla (SA-18) are much more easy to get than Western systems, while Igla is just as capable as the US Stinger. The Russian Igla-S (or Super Igla) currently under development is an extremely deadly weapon.