{"id":45592,"date":"2022-04-18T17:02:19","date_gmt":"2022-04-18T17:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/04\/18\/paratroopers-with-the-173rd-airborne-brigade-fire-live-stinger-missiles-in-unit-first\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:08:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:08:56","slug":"paratroopers-with-the-173rd-airborne-brigade-fire-live-stinger-missiles-in-unit-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2022\/04\/18\/paratroopers-with-the-173rd-airborne-brigade-fire-live-stinger-missiles-in-unit-first\/","title":{"rendered":"Paratroopers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade fire live Stinger missiles in Croatia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. paratroopers with the Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade<\/a> live-fired the FIM-92 Stinger<\/a> man-portable air-defense system for the first time on April 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The missiles were shot as part of Exercise Shell 22 in Croatia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soldiers from 1st and 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment, based in Vicenza, Italy, fired a dozen of the surface-to-air missiles in two-man squads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each missile costs about $38,000. The 173rd Airborne Brigade has only previously fired replica Stinger rounds, Stars and Stripes reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each squad was comprised of a team chief and a gunner. The soldiers fired the missiles toward a small target with a flare, brigade spokesperson Capt. Rob Haake told Stripes. The missiles landed in the Adriatic Sea, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Haake, \u201cevery single [soldier] walked away with a big smile\u201d after firing their missiles. \u201cEveryone felt very fulfilled. They said it was an amazing experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
U.S. Army paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade fire a FIM-92 Stinger during an air defense live-fire exercise near Medulin, Croatia on April 9, 2022. (Staff Sgt. John Yountz\/ U.S. Army)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Exercise Shell 22, which was held alongside Croatian forces, also marked the first time the Croatian Air Defense Regiment had conducted a live-fire exercise with U.S. troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also included in the exercise were training events involving airspace control, deconfliction and surveillance.<\/p>\n\n\n\t