Exclusive: New FULGUR portable air defense missile to equip Italian Army replacing U.S. Stinger by 2028.

According to information released on the Ciro Nappi X account, on July 4, 2025, MBDA has officially unveiled its latest air defense innovation, the FULGUR MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System), developed as a very short-range air defense (VSHORAD) solution for the Italian Army. The system was presented following a contract signed at the Paris Air Show in June 2025, with initial deliveries planned for 2028. Designed as a modern replacement for the U.S.-made FIM-92 Stinger, FULGUR promises to revolutionize man-portable air defense with its advanced capabilities.
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Scale model of the MBDA FULGUR portable air defense missile system MANPADS presented to illustrate its design and configuration. (Picture source: MBDA)

The FIM-92 Stinger is a shoulder-fired, infrared homing surface-to-air missile system developed by the American Company General Dynamics in the United States and later manufactured by Raytheon. Entering service in 1981, the Stinger missile weighs approximately 10.1 kilograms, measures 1.52 meters in length, and has a diameter of 70 millimeters. It can engage targets at a range of up to 4.8 kilometers and altitudes of up to 3.8 kilometers. Equipped with a passive infrared seeker, the Stinger uses proportional navigation and is guided by the heat signatures of aircraft engines. It features a high-explosive annular blast fragmentation warhead and a dual-detector system designed to reduce susceptibility to countermeasures. While it has proven effective in multiple conflicts, the system lacks modern imaging sensors and suffers limitations in threat recognition, electronic warfare resilience, and adaptability to new aerial threats such as loitering munitions and small drones.

Compared to the Stinger, the FULGUR offers significant technological and operational improvements. It incorporates a supersonic missile with a longer effective range of 5 kilometers and much faster time-to-target performance. While the Stinger relies on legacy infrared homing, FULGUR utilizes a new-generation electro-optical seeker based on imaging infrared, providing enhanced target recognition and resilience against countermeasures. Its fire-and-forget guidance is complemented by advanced processing and an integrated IFF capability, drastically reducing the risk of friendly fire. Additionally, FULGUR is designed from the outset for multi-platform integration, including vehicles and helicopters, whereas the Stinger's flexibility is limited by its legacy design. This gives FULGUR a broader tactical application and ensures interoperability within modern digital battlefield networks.

FULGUR addresses these challenges with a cutting-edge design featuring a supersonic missile that weighs approximately 10 kilograms, measures 1.5 meters in length, and has a diameter of 70 millimeters. It offers a maximum engagement range of 5 kilometers and is capable of intercepting airborne threats in a very short time due to its high speed. The missile incorporates a new generation electro-optical seeker using imaging infrared technology, providing superior target acquisition and tracking in all weather and lighting conditions.

In its shoulder-fired MANPADS configuration, the FULGUR system consists of the missile housed in a sealed launch tube, which is mounted on a lightweight gripstock. This gripstock includes an electro-optic sighting module for target detection and tracking, a processing unit for real-time engagement calculations, and an integrated Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system to prevent fratricide. The intuitive design enables fast deployment by dismounted infantry, enhancing tactical flexibility in mobile air defense operations.

Beyond the individual soldier system, FULGUR has been engineered for integration on a range of platforms including the IDV VTLM2 with Leonardo HITFIST turrets, 8x8 armored vehicles, and rotary-wing aircraft like the AW249 attack helicopter. The system will also be a key component of MBDA’s SKY WARDEN modular architecture, providing a multi-layered response to unmanned aerial systems and low-flying threats. The development of FULGUR is led by MBDA Italia, with Leonardo supplying the advanced seeker and Avio providing the propulsion unit, reflecting Italy’s strategy to enhance technological sovereignty and strengthen its defense industrial base.

A full-scale mockup of the FULGUR missile was publicly exhibited for the first time at MBDA’s booth during the 2025 Paris Air Show. Positioned alongside the fourth prototype of the AW249 helicopter, this display underscored the missile’s role in Italy’s next-generation air defense network. The introduction of FULGUR represents a strategic shift for the Italian Army and offers a strong signal of Europe’s intent to invest in independent, high-performance defense solutions that can address the spectrum of modern air threats.