U.S. defense company Raytheon Technologies executives warned on the 26th that they will not accelerate production of the Stinger anti-aircraft missile until following 2023 due to a lack of available parts.
Agence France-Presse reported that Western countries have delivered thousands of these surface-to-air missiles and shoulder-launched devices to Ukraine, which are effective once morest helicopters and low-flying fighter jets. The US has provided Ukraine with 1,400 stinger missiles.
Inventories of this type of missile have been reduced and replenishment will take time.
Raytheon stopped production last summer before the U.S. Department of Defense ordered $340 million worth of stinger missiles on behalf of an international client.
The defense contractor is now working to restart production of the missile, Chief Executive Greg Hayes said on a call with analysts: “But we have a fairly limited inventory of materials to make the stinger.”
Raytheon has been working with the U.S. Department of Defense to address the issue, but Hayes said, “Unfortunately, the Department of Defense has not procured needle missiles in 18 years, and some of these parts are no longer commercially available.”
As a result, Thor will have to redesign some of the electronics.
Hayes said Raytheon will try to “increase production” as much as possible this year before “we actually see orders coming in for larger replenishments, including needles and the Javelin missile, which has also been quite successful on the battlefield.” It won’t be fully operational until 2023 or 2024.
The Javelin is produced by a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
Raytheon has revised down its annual sales forecast because sanctions on Russia have prevented the arms dealer from selling new products or providing repair services to Russia.
However, sales of Thor’s defense systems are expected to grow. Hayes said that was because many countries had boosted military budgets or filled gaps in “stockpiles for years to come” following they handed over weapons to Ukraine.
Responsible editor: Yu Weining
