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Avenger
air defense system is an automated, short-range very low level
short range air defense (VSHORAD) system, capable of
shoot-on-the-move air defense weapon. Avenger uses a turret
equipped with eight ready to fire Stinger missiles in two missile
pods. It acquires, identifies, tracks and engages targets such as
low-flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, from a stationery
or moving position.
Avenger is capable of operation in day, night and
adverse weather conditions. It can shoot on the move and be
operated by remote control, up to 50 meters from the firing unit.
The Avenger uses
passive sensors, it employs a turret mounted on a tactical vehicle
(Hummer), consisting of a gunner position, two missile launcher
pods containing four Stinger missiles each, a forward-looking
infrared receiver (FLIR), a laser range finder, an identification
friend or foe (IFF) system and a high rate of fire .50-caliber
machine gun (1,100 rpm).
The system can be
transported by a UH-60 Black Hawk, Chinook and CH-53 helicopters
or a C-130 aircraft. The Avenger A2 has network the system with
external radars and the Forward Area Air Defense (FAAD) C3 system.
Upon selection of a specific track for engagement, the Avenger
turret will automatically slew to bring the target within the
FLIR's field of view.
Avenger Multi-Role
Weapon System
Avenger Multi-Role Weapon System (AMWS)
is a modified Avenger air defense vehicle designed for a
multi-mission role. The standard Avenger uses Eight Stinger
missiles to provide protection against airborne threats. Boeing is
offering more flexible weapons configurations, including a gun
equipped variant, integrating a .50 caliber machine gun over the
cab to enable engagement of air and ground targets with increased
ammunition capacity. Another configuration exchanges one of the
quad launchers for a pair of launchers containing Javelin
Anti-Tank Guided Missiles. The system conducted test firing
demonstrations in 2004 and continued testing and development to
date.
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