What You Need to Know: The U.S. Marine Corps is adapting the FIM-92 Stinger missile, traditionally used to down aircraft, for anti-amphibious roles in preparation for a potential conflict with China.

-In recent joint drills with the Philippine military, Marines deployed Stingers from coastal positions to target landing crafts, showcasing the weapon’s versatility.

-Given the potential need to defend Taiwan against a Chinese amphibious assault, the Marines are rethinking coastal defense strategies.

-The updated Stinger, equipped with a proximity fuse for counter-drone operations, demonstrates effectiveness against amphibious targets, adding a new layer to the Marine Corps’ coastal defense capabilities.

U.S. Marines Adapt Stinger Missiles for Anti-Amphibious Warfare Against China

The U.S. Marine Corps is getting ready for a war with China by testing some old weapons in new roles.

As part of this testing, Marine infantry companies are using the FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft missile—the weapon responsible for Russia’s “Vietnam” in Afghanistan in the 1980s—against amphibious targets.

The FIM-92 Stinger in New Roles

A war with China would most likely erupt over a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. And an invasion of Taiwan would require one of the largest amphibious operations in modern times. So, the Marine Corps is working on its anti-amphibious warfare capabilities to defend against Chinese landings.

As part of a recent counter-landing drills with the Philippine military, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) tested the FIM-92 Stinger against incoming landing crafts and amphibious infantry fighting vehicles.

The shouldered-fired FIM-92 Stinger isn’t designed to take on landing craft and boats but rather to shoot down helicopters and fighter jets.

The Marines were set up in holes close to the beach in a layout similar to those of their forefathers in World War Two. However, today’s battlefield presents more threats. A Chinese invasion force, for example, would very likely use one-way attack drones ahead of the landing forces to soften up the beach and take out threats. There are countermeasures and ways to protect against such threats, but the danger is there.

“Today, Philippine and U.S. Marines are integrating our respective emerging doctrines for coastal defense and counter-landing operations,” U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicholas Freeman, commanding officer of Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th MEU, said about the counter-landing exercise.

In terms of targets, the Marines fired against dummies on the water, landing several hits, and thus showcasing that the FIM-92 Stinger can indeed be effective in a counter-landing role.

“We’re training to maneuver and mass effects to attrite, block, fix and destroy a force that attempts to land. Here, Philippine guides would bring in our forces to rapidly establish an area defense of this landing site. Our engagement area would extend from the beach's exit routes out to the launch points for enemy landing craft, with a plan for fires integrating both Philippine and U.S. Marine weapons systems,” Freeman added.

According to Raytheon, the manufacturer of the FIM-92 Stinger, the portable anti-aircraft missile has more than 270 verified kills, including fighter jets and helicopters, to its credit. As far as targets, the Russian military remains the FIM-92 Stinger’s favorite adversary, with most of the 270 kills racked up against the Soviet and Russian forces in Afghanistan and Ukraine. The Ukrainian forces are using the missile profusely to deny the Russian Aerospace Forces control of the skies over the battlefield.

The FIM-92 Stinger has been in service since the 1980s but remains a reliable anti-aircraft weapon system and quite dangerous to low-flying aircraft. Raytheon has equipped newer versions of the missile with a proximity fuse that allows the munition to explode when it is close to a target rather than when it strikes it, thus making it ideal for counter-drone operations as well.

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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