AN/TWQ-1 Avenger vs S-500 missile system

FORCETALLY

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AAir defence

AN/TWQ-1 Avenger

Hybrid mobile surface-to-air missile launcher system and self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

BAir defence

S-500 missile system

Mobile surface-to-air missile

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

AN/TWQ-1 Avengerlarger figure on 0 of 1

None

S-500 missile systemlarger figure on 1 of 1

Range+35%

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

8 of 32 rows sourced on both sides

4.95m

—

Length

All recorded figures & sources

4.95 m

Length

Single source

16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m)^[source]

2.18m

—

Width

Configuration

Details

AN/TWQ-1 Avenger and S-500 missile system configuration
Specification	AN/TWQ-1 Avenger	S-500 missile system
Type	Hybrid mobile surface-to-air missile launcher system and self-propelled anti-aircraft gun^[source]	Mobile surface-to-air missile^[source]
Place of origin	United States^[source]	Russian Federation^[source]
In service	1989–present^[source]	16 September 2021^[source]
Used by	Lithuanian Air Defense Battalion , United States Army , United States Marine Corps , Ukrainian Military^[source]

Manufacturer	Boeing^[source]	Almaz-Antey^[source]

Produced	1980s–present^[source]	2021–present^[source]

No. built	Over 1,100 by 2002^[source]	1 S-500 regiment in service^[source]

Main armament	4/8 FIM-92 Stinger missiles^[source]	—

Secondary armament	.50 FN M3P machine gun^[source]	—

Road speed	– 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)^[source]	—

Vehicle range	– 275 miles (443 km)^[source]	—

Engine power output	– 135 horsepower (101 kW)^[source]	—

Role	American self-propelled surface-to-air missile system^[source]	—

Source measurement	Originally developed as a private venture by Boeing in the 1980s, the Avenger was developed over a period of only 10 months from initial concept to delivery for testing to the U.S. Army. Initial testing was conducted in May 1984 at the Army's Yakima Training Center in the U.S. state of Washington . During testing three FIM-92 Stinger missiles were fired. During the first test firing, in April 1984, the system achieved a direct hit while the Avenger was moving at 20 miles per hour (32 km/h).^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In April 2017, an Avenger fired Stingers at two UAVs in a test on Eglin Air Force Base , marking the missile's first interception of a UAV target. While Stingers are usually loaded with direct impact warheads for use against aircraft and cruise missiles, these were equipped with proximity fuzes that enabled them to detonate near the target, giving them the ability to destroy small UAVs. Since small UAVs do not produce large heat signatures, the Avenger uses a laser rangefinder in combination with an antenna on the warhead to direct the missile on target. The Stingers shot down an MQM-170C Outlaw and a smaller, unidentified system, demonstrating the fuze's ability to detect and destroy moving mini-drones weighing as little as 2–20 kg (4.4–44.1 lb).^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Up-Gun Avenger was developed specifically for the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment for the Regiment's 2005 deployment to Iraq. The modification was designed to allow the Avenger to perform unit and asset defense in addition to its air defense mission. The right missile pod was removed and the M3P 12.7 mm (.50) cal machine gun was moved to the pod's former position. This allowed for the removal of the turret's cab safety limits which enabled the gun to be fired directly in front of the HMMWV. Eight of the unit's Avengers were modified to this configuration. With the 3rd ACR's redeployment from Iraq, the Up-Gun Avenger completed its role in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Avengers have been scheduled to be converted back to STC systems.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Overview; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Boeing teamed with Shorts Brothers PLC (now part of Thales ) to offer an Avenger system in which one Stinger pod was replaced with a pod of four Starstreak Hyper-velocity laser-guided missiles, in the hopes of attracting a U.S. Army contract under the Forward Area Air Defense System Line-of-Sight Rear (FAADS-LOS-R) program. Test installation was carried out in mid-1990 and firing trials followed from mid-1991 in the U.K. Starstreak would have complemented the Stinger by improving the overall systems ability to deal with low hovering helicopters which frequently do not provide enough contrast for lock-on by infrared guided missiles. Starstreak also has the ability to be used against un-armored and lightly armored ground vehicles.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Boeing/Shorts Starstreak Avenger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Due to the lack of serious airborne threats during much of the Iraq War, along with the pressing need for ground assets for combat roles such as convoy protection, the Avenger was pressed into this role. The FLIR / laser rangefinder combined with the 12.7 mm (.50) cal machine gun has proved to be very effective, but was limited by no-fire zones, particularly to the front of the vehicle. A program was instituted to remove one of the missile pods and move the machine gun to that position to enable a 360° field of fire. The upgrade also increased the ammunition capacity to 650 rounds.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Avengers during the Iraq War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Another potential variant proposed by Boeing is an Avenger with a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW). Boeing completed an initial test of a 1 kW laser mounted where the right missile pod would be. The M3P 12.7 mm (.50) cal has been replaced by the M242 Bushmaster as its close defense weapon.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Avenger DEW; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Boeing have proposed that the Avenger PMS turret could be mounted on other vehicles such as Unimog truck, BV-206 all-terrain vehicles, M113 APC, and M548 tracked cargo carrier as well as being used as a stationary ground mount on a pallet for defense of static targets. The Avenger PMS has been demonstrated with a mock-up of two 70 mm helicopter-type rocket pods carrying a total of 36 rockets to give the system greater multi-mission utility. Other missiles such as the Bofors RBS 70 /Bolide have been proposed for use on the Avenger PMS.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Other variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Length – 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Width – 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Height – 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 m)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Weight – 8,600 pounds (3,900 kg)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Road speed – 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Vehicle range – 275 miles (443 km)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Engine power output – 135 horsepower (101 kW)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage One FN M3P machine gun built by FN Herstal , a variant of the Browning AN/M3 developed for aviation use during World War II. It is a 12.7 mm (.50) caliber machine gun with an electronic trigger that can be fired from both the remote control unit (RCU) located in the drivers cab, and from the handstation located in the Avenger turret. It has a 950 to 1100 rounds per minute firing rate. Loads one box of 200–250 rounds at a time.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Weapons; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Remote Control Unit (RCU) using an encrypted RF link for secure control and video transmission up to 160 feet (50 m) away^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Electronics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage	—

Source measurement

Originally developed as a private venture by Boeing in the 1980s, the Avenger was developed over a period of only 10 months from initial concept to delivery for testing to the U.S. Army. Initial testing was conducted in May 1984 at the Army's Yakima Training Center in the U.S. state of Washington . During testing three FIM-92 Stinger missiles were fired. During the first test firing, in April 1984, the system achieved a direct hit while the Avenger was moving at 20 miles per hour (32 km/h).^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In April 2017, an Avenger fired Stingers at two UAVs in a test on Eglin Air Force Base , marking the missile's first interception of a UAV target. While Stingers are usually loaded with direct impact warheads for use against aircraft and cruise missiles, these were equipped with proximity fuzes that enabled them to detonate near the target, giving them the ability to destroy small UAVs. Since small UAVs do not produce large heat signatures, the Avenger uses a laser rangefinder in combination with an antenna on the warhead to direct the missile on target. The Stingers shot down an MQM-170C Outlaw and a smaller, unidentified system, demonstrating the fuze's ability to detect and destroy moving mini-drones weighing as little as 2–20 kg (4.4–44.1 lb).^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · History; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Up-Gun Avenger was developed specifically for the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment for the Regiment's 2005 deployment to Iraq. The modification was designed to allow the Avenger to perform unit and asset defense in addition to its air defense mission. The right missile pod was removed and the M3P 12.7 mm (.50) cal machine gun was moved to the pod's former position. This allowed for the removal of the turret's cab safety limits which enabled the gun to be fired directly in front of the HMMWV. Eight of the unit's Avengers were modified to this configuration. With the 3rd ACR's redeployment from Iraq, the Up-Gun Avenger completed its role in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Avengers have been scheduled to be converted back to STC systems.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Overview; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Boeing teamed with Shorts Brothers PLC (now part of Thales ) to offer an Avenger system in which one Stinger pod was replaced with a pod of four Starstreak Hyper-velocity laser-guided missiles, in the hopes of attracting a U.S. Army contract under the Forward Area Air Defense System Line-of-Sight Rear (FAADS-LOS-R) program. Test installation was carried out in mid-1990 and firing trials followed from mid-1991 in the U.K. Starstreak would have complemented the Stinger by improving the overall systems ability to deal with low hovering helicopters which frequently do not provide enough contrast for lock-on by infrared guided missiles. Starstreak also has the ability to be used against un-armored and lightly armored ground vehicles.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Boeing/Shorts Starstreak Avenger; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Due to the lack of serious airborne threats during much of the Iraq War, along with the pressing need for ground assets for combat roles such as convoy protection, the Avenger was pressed into this role. The FLIR / laser rangefinder combined with the 12.7 mm (.50) cal machine gun has proved to be very effective, but was limited by no-fire zones, particularly to the front of the vehicle. A program was instituted to remove one of the missile pods and move the machine gun to that position to enable a 360° field of fire. The upgrade also increased the ammunition capacity to 650 rounds.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Avengers during the Iraq War; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Another potential variant proposed by Boeing is an Avenger with a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW). Boeing completed an initial test of a 1 kW laser mounted where the right missile pod would be. The M3P 12.7 mm (.50) cal has been replaced by the M242 Bushmaster as its close defense weapon.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Avenger DEW; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Boeing have proposed that the Avenger PMS turret could be mounted on other vehicles such as Unimog truck, BV-206 all-terrain vehicles, M113 APC, and M548 tracked cargo carrier as well as being used as a stationary ground mount on a pallet for defense of static targets. The Avenger PMS has been demonstrated with a mock-up of two 70 mm helicopter-type rocket pods carrying a total of 36 rockets to give the system greater multi-mission utility. Other missiles such as the Bofors RBS 70 /Bolide have been proposed for use on the Avenger PMS.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Variants / Other variants; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Length – 16 feet 3 inches (4.95 m)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Width – 7 feet 2 inches (2.18 m)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Height – 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 m)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Weight – 8,600 pounds (3,900 kg)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Road speed – 55 miles per hour (89 km/h)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Vehicle range – 275 miles (443 km)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Engine power output – 135 horsepower (101 kW)^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Dimensions; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

One FN M3P machine gun built by FN Herstal , a variant of the Browning AN/M3 developed for aviation use during World War II. It is a 12.7 mm (.50) caliber machine gun with an electronic trigger that can be fired from both the remote control unit (RCU) located in the drivers cab, and from the handstation located in the Avenger turret. It has a 950 to 1100 rounds per minute firing rate. Loads one box of 200–250 rounds at a time.^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Weapons; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Remote Control Unit (RCU) using an encrypted RF link for secure control and video transmission up to 160 feet (50 m) away^[source]AN/TWQ-1 Avenger · Specifications / Electronics; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

—

Designer	—	Almaz-Antey^[source]

Unit cost	—	$2.5 billion^[source]

Reported operators	Reported operator · Bahrain Reported operator · Egypt Reported operator · Iraq Reported operator · Lithuania Reported operator · Taiwan Reported operator · United States Reported operator · Ukraine	—