USA's stinger missiles, which cn be fired by a single soldier have been in demand in Ukraine as they have successfully stopped Russian air assaults. But US supplies have dwindled and there are hurdles in the way of producing anti-aircraft weapons.
Challenges include complications related to ramping up production, reluctance by the U.S. to redirect valuable manufacturing capacity to decades-old technology, and fears among defense firms that they would be stuck with unwanted arms when the Ukraine war winds down, according to Reuters interviews with US officials and defense firms.
While US troops themselves have limited use for the current supply of Stingers - a lightweight, self-contained weapon that can be deployed quickly to defend against helicopters, airplanes, drones and even cruise missiles - the US needs to maintain its supply on hand while it develops the next generation of a "man-portable air defense system."
