Accession Number:

ADA454087

Title:

Critical Technology Events in the Development of the Stinger and Javelin Missile Systems: Project Hindsight Revisited

Descriptive Note:

Research paper

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV WASHINGTON DC CENTER FOR TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY

Personal Author(s):

• Lyons, John W.
• Long, Duncan
• Chait, Richard

Report Date:

2006-07-01

Pagination or Media Count:

39.0

Abstract:

This paper seeks to identify the Critical Technology Events CTEs in the development of the Stinger and the Javelin missiles. CTEs are ideas, concepts, models, and analyses, including key technical and managerial decisions, that have had major impacts on the development of a specific weapons system. It is the third paper in a series that examines key factors that have led to meaningful technology generation and ultimate incorporation into current U.S. Army weapons systems. The first papers in the series focused on the Abrams tank and the Apache helicopter. This paper turns to two technologically advanced infantry weapons the Stinger and the Javelin. These armaments have different roles in the arsenal, but they are both man-portable, fire-and-forget missiles whose development posed some unique challenges. A fourth and final paper in the series will summarize the findings of these three reports and offer recommendations for managing the Armys Science Technology portfolio. The authors begin their study of the development of these two missile systems by briefly reviewing a project that served as a source of inspiration for these efforts Project Hindsight, a 1969 Defense Department DoD report. Hindsight was an in-depth study sponsored by the Director of Defense Research and Engineering DDRE that provided some insights into the development of approximately 20 weapons systems. This review of Hindsight is followed by a description of the methodology that they used to gather key data on the development of the Stinger and the Javelin. Then, for each missile, they first present a brief description of the system and history of the program. The information that they have gathered is then broken out by major technical development areas i.e., seeker, guidancecontrol, propulsionwarhead and presented in terms of CTEs. The final portion of the paper presents findings and concluding remarks that draw on the CTEs in the development of both missiles.

Descriptors:

• *WEAPON SYSTEMS
• *HISTORY
• *ANTITANK MISSILES
• *ANTIAIRCRAFT MISSILES
• *FIRE AND FORGET WEAPONS
• *PROJECT MANAGEMENT
• *MILITARY CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY
• CONTROL SYSTEMS
• ARMY RESEARCH
• DECISION MAKING
• HOMING DEVICES
• SHOULDER LAUNCHED WEAPONS
• MANPORTABLE EQUIPMENT
• SURFACE TO SURFACE MISSILES
• SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES
• GUIDANCE
• PROPULSION SYSTEMS
• GUIDED MISSILE WARHEADS
• INFANTRY

Subject Categories:

• Administration and Management
• Guided Missile Warheads and Fuzes
• Surface-Launched Guided Missiles
• Navigation and Guidance

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE