MANPADS

Man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS) are small, light, missile-launching weapons designed to be fired by an operator on the ground against a target in the air. Because MANPADS technology is more advanced than most small arms and light weapons, their production is confined to a relatively small number of countries. However, they proliferate widely, both in the hands of state parties and non-state armed groups. They are a threat to all types of aircraft and concern has been raised over attacks on civilian aircraft.

MANPADS have been the focus of a number of national, multilateral and global initiatives aimed at controlling proliferation. Another set of measures that has received widespread attention has been those designed to defend against or dissuade attacks by non-state actors on civilian aircraft and airports.

Technology

Small Arms Survey Production

James Bevan. 2004. Big Issue, Big Problem: MANPADS. In Small Arms Survey 2004: Rights at Risk.


Other Articles, Books, and Journals

Astronautix. 2003. General Dynamics FIM-43 Redeye. Encyclopaedia Astronáutica.

Army-Technology. 2003. Mistral Air Defense Missile System, France.

Redstone Arsenal. 2003. Stinger/Avenger. Redstone, AL: US Army Materiel Command.

Jane's Information Group. 2000. Raytheon Electronic Systems FIM-92 Stinger Low-altitude Surface-to-air Missile System Family. Jane's Land-based Air Defence.


Further Resources

Jane's Land-based Air Defence
Jane's Missiles and Rockets
Federation of American Scientists (Military Analysis Network).


 
 

Production

Small Arms Survey Production

Bevan, James. 2006. Military Demand and Supply: Products and Producers. In Small Arms Survey 2006: Unfinished Business.

Bevan, James. 2005. Unpacking Production: The Small Arms Industry. In Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War.

Weidacher, Reinhilde. 2005. Behind a Veil of Secrecy: Military Small Arms and Light Weapons Production in Western Europe. Occasional Paper No. 16.

James Bevan. 2004. Big Issue, Big Problem: MANPADS. In Small Arms Survey 2004: Rights at Risk.

Bevan, James. 2004. Brief Notes on Light Weapons and Potential Areas of Research. Unpublished Small Arms Survey Background Paper.

Pyadushkin, Maxim. 2004. An Analysis of the Production of Small Arms and Light Weapons in Russia. Unpublished Small Arms Survey Background Paper.

Batchelor, Peter and James Bevan. 2004. Continuity and Change: Products and Producers. In Small Arms Survey 2004: Rights at Risk.


Further Resources

Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT)
Norwegian Initiative on Small Arms Transfers (NISAT), Databases
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
Federation of American Scientists (MANPADS campaign)
Jane's Missiles and Rockets


 
 

Proliferation

Small Arms Survey Production

James Bevan. 2004. Big Issue, Big Problem: MANPADS. In Small Arms Survey 2004: Rights at Risk.


Other Articles, Books, and Journals

Stohl, Rachel, Matt Schroeder, and Dan Smith. 2007. The Small Arms Trade: A Beginner's Guide . Oxford : One World.

Bolkam, Christopher and Bartholomew Elias. 2006. Homeland Security: Protecting Airliners from Terrorist Missiles. CRS Report for Congress. RL31741. Washington: Congressional Research Service.


Further Resources

Federation of American Scientists (MANPADS campaign)


 
 

Threat

Small Arms Survey Production

James Bevan. 2004. Big Issue, Big Problem: MANPADS. In Small Arms Survey 2004: Rights at Risk.


Other Articles, Books, and Journals

International Civil Aviation Organization. 2004. Threat Posed to Civil Aviation by Man-Portable Air Defense Systems. Presentation at 2nd Conference on Secure Trade in APEC Region (STAR-Air Transportation Security), Viña del Mar, Chile 5-6 March 2004.

Khun, David. 2003. Mombasa Attack Highlights Increasing MANPADS Threat. Jane's Intelligence Review. Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group.


Further Resources

Jane's Intelligence Review
Federation of American Scientists (MANPADS campaign)
International Air Transport Association


 

National, Multilateral and Global Initiatives

Small Arms Survey Production

McDonald, Glenn. 2005. Locking onto Target: Light Weapons Control Measures. In Small Arms Survey 2005: Weapons at War.

James Bevan. 2004. Big Issue, Big Problem: MANPADS. In Small Arms Survey 2004: Rights at Risk.


Instrument / Document

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). A/RES/60/77 (11 January 2006). "Prevention of the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems," adopted 8 December 2005. (108 KB)

Organisation of American States (OAS). 2005. Denying MANPADS to Terrorists: Control and Security of Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS). Adopted by the General Assembly on 7 June 2005.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). 2004. APEC Guidelines on Controls and Security of Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS).

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Forum on Security Co-operation. 2004. OSCE Principles for Export Controls of Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS). Decision No. 3/04, 26 May 2004.

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). A/RES/59/90 (17 December 2004). "Prevention of the illicit transfer and unauthorized access to and use of man-portable air defence systems," adopted 3 December 2004. (26 KB)

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). A/RES/58/274 (13 August 2003). "Continuing Operation of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms and its further development" - Note by the Secretary General. See in particular page 33.

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Forum on Security Co-operation. 2003. Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems. Decision No. 7/03, 23 July 2003.

Enhance Transport Security and Control of Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS): A G8 Action Plan. G8 Evian Summit, 1-3 June 2003.

Wassenaar Arrangement. 2003. Elements for Export Controls of Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS).

Wassenaar Arrangement. 2000. Elements for Export Controls of Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS) (1 December).


Further Resources

Bevan, James. 2007. Connecting paradigms: MANPADS in the national and human security debates. Disarmament Forum. No. 1, pp. 43-52.

Schroeder, Matthew. 2007. ‘Countering the MANPADS threat: Strategies for Success'. Arms Control Today . September.

Schroeder, Matthew. 2007. ‘Global efforts to control MANPADS'. SIPRI Yearbook 2007: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security . June.

Federation of American Scientists (MANPADS campaign)

Schroeder, Matthew, Rachel Stohl and Dan Smith. 2006. The Small Arms Trade.

United States Department of State, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. 2005. The MANPADS Menace: Combating the Threat to Global Aviation from Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems. Fact Sheet. Washington: US Department of State.

 
 

Defensive Measures

Small Arms Survey Production

James Bevan. 2004. Big Issue, Big Problem: MANPADS. In Small Arms Survey 2004: Rights at Risk.


Other Articles, Books, and Journals

Bolkam, Christopher and Bartholomew Elias. 2006. Homeland Security: Protecting Airliners from Terrorist Missiles. CRS Report for Congress. RL31741. Washington: Congressional Research Service.

Chow, James, et al. 2005. Protecting Commercial Aviation Against the Shoulder-Fired Missile Threat. Santa Monica: RAND. January.

Aviation Security. 2004. Testimony of Jim May: CEO, Air Transport Association. United States Senate.


Further Resources

Federation of American Scientists (MANPADS campaign)