HMMWV Avenger

HMMWV Avengers Story

The Hummer Avenger is a modified version of the M1037 Refuge Transporter Hummer. It is a short-range mobile air defense platform used by the U.S. Army, Taiwan Army and Egyptian Army. This is a relatively inexpensive system that uses the existing HUMVEE chassis and retains most of the type's features, while employing the proven Stinger missile system. A typical Avenger crew consists of a driver and turret operator/gunner.

The most notable feature of this Hummer is obviously its 360-degree rotating one-man turret mounted on the rear bed. The operator sits in the center of the unit, under a sloping transparent glass hood, flanked by two 4-round rocket launchers on each side. Each launch vehicle carries four short-range Stinger surface-to-air missiles ready to launch. Allowing launch "on the move" or from fixed arrays, the Avenger provides a truly flexible and adaptable form of air defense protection. The turret can also be removed and used as a standalone ground unit, or mounted on various vehicle chassis available to the U.S. Army, while the remaining Humvee M1037 chassis can be reused for other required roles.

Avenger turret operator controls turret rotation and uses optical sights in clear weather, while sensor packs are available for other weather conditions. Additionally, the operator can rely on the integrated Avenger tracking system to control the turret's rotational function and, if desired, even operate the turret from the Humvee's cabin. When all else fails, the Avenger Hummer carries a Stinger missile launcher in case the turret fails or gets damaged.

The aluminum-cased, fire-and-forget Stinger missile itself is a huge improvement over the Cold War-era Red Eye missile it replaced. The Stinger has the ability to track and attack incoming enemy aircraft (including helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles) or incoming missiles from any direction (not just from behind, like a red eye), and can sense ultraviolet and infrared forms of Energy. The Stinger has an operational limitation of maintaining a minimum firing distance before activating the weapon. As such, the Avenger turret is equipped with a 12.7mm (0.50 caliber) M3P series heavy machine gun with 200 rounds of ammunition allocated for hitting targets that fall within this minimum armed range.

While the Avengers are described as a "short-range" air defense system (each stinger has a range of about 5 miles and a target altitude of up to 10,000 feet), the relatively new "SLAMRAAM Humvee" is a welcome addition. Medium The SLAMRAAM system is designed to operate alongside the Avenger unit, not as a direct replacement. Each SLAMRAAM is equipped to fire up to six AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range surface-to-air missiles. Combined with the Avengers, ground troops have a competent short- and medium-range shield against enemy attacks.

The Avenger entered service with the U.S. Armed Forces in 1989 and remains in heavy service today.

HMMWV Avenger Specs

Basic

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Performance

Armor

8 x FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missiles.

200x12.7mm M3P ammo.

Changes