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Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

popsci.com

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Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#11

Post by alexawarrior »

vsskanth wrote: post #2

I think the issue here is more about finding someone with security clearance (labor shortage) rather than the know how. I would assume a company like Raytheon has all their processes documented and can quickly spin up a new manufacturing line for a legacy product.

“I would assume a company like Raytheon has all their processes documented and can quickly spin up a new manufacturing line for a legacy product.”

As someone who has worked in this field, I almost spewed coffee out my nose. Thanks for the chuckles.

Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#12

Post by dragonwriter »

vsskanth wrote: post #2

I think the issue here is more about finding someone with security clearance (labor shortage) rather than the know how. I would assume a company like Raytheon has all their processes documented and can quickly spin up a new manufacturing line for a legacy product.

> I would assume a company like Raytheon has all their processes documented and can quickly spin up a new manufacturing line for a legacy product.

Do you assume that they had all of their processes documented 20 years ago, and that they have retained all of that documentation, and that the documentation is appropriate for a 2023 workforce and doesn't make assumptions about the audience that would be invalid today?

Because I would bet that that isn’t all true.

Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#13

Post by cameron_b »

wrp wrote: post #3

If the Vitebsk-25 defensive system works anywhere near as well as claimed, it would seem to be a really bad idea to resume production of this old technology.

The difference is training. Scores of operators on the ground are already trained and experienced on the Stinger platform and the development of complete already.

Backfilling a proven stock item is faster than infilling a new platform. Refer to the training cycles required for tanks provided by the UK. Those tanks have qualified operators ( with matching tactical-operational skills, but there are few personnel to back up their abilities. The Stinger is valuable because of the established user base compared to that.

Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#15

Post by GordonS »

dragonwriter wrote: post #12
vsskanth wrote: post #2

I think the issue here is more about finding someone with security clearance (labor shortage) rather than the know how. I would assume a company like Raytheon has all their processes documented and can quickly spin up a new manufacturing line for a legacy product.

> I would assume a company like Raytheon has all their processes documented and can quickly spin up a new manufacturing line for a legacy product. Do you assume that they had all of their processes documented 20 years ago, and that they have retained all of that documentation, and that the documentation is appropriate for a 2023 workforce and doesn't make assumptions about the audience that would be invalid today? Be…

I'd guess it was true.

I've worked with engineering companies across Europe, and their documentation is always amazing, with full traceability of every component going back to the 80's. Everything from processes to weld inspections.

I'd assume that a company engineering weapons would be the same.

Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#16

Post by sadhorse »

lightedman wrote: post #8
mozman wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did you just make that up or do you have supporting evidence?

My father did the radar guidance system for the Harpoon and Tomahawk missiles - for Raytheon. Yes, they're having problems with getting cleared people. It isn't the top-paying gig it used to be.

Neat. My uncle worked on nuke stuff at Lawrence Livermore. He used to sleep talk incoherent phrases. I never made sense of anything but it was fun to guess. Stuff like "no, the crosstalk will ruin in" or "it's too close to the physics pack they will not approve".

Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#17

Post by anovikov »

wrp wrote: post #3

If the Vitebsk-25 defensive system works anywhere near as well as claimed, it would seem to be a really bad idea to resume production of this old technology.

They are mostly used to shoot down cruise missiles deep within Ukrainian territory, not planes (Russian planes don't fly over Ukraine controlled territory anyway, that would be suicide, and over frontline they have decent AAA). There's nothing new in defence pods like Vitebsk-25 for aircraft, they existed for decades and even many civilian aircraft have them (like many Israeli passenger planes, knowing they can be subject to terrorist shootdowns).

Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#18

Post by AustinDev »

morninglight wrote: post #14

[flagged]

It's not hard to find people using MANPADS like the Stinger after they start shooting. The first one might suprise you but after that they're going to locate you and then figure out everyone you've ever talked to and bust your cell wide open in a matter of hours.

Re: Raytheon asks retirees for help making new Stinger anti-air missiles

#20

Post by Jtsummers »

wrp wrote: post #3

If the Vitebsk-25 defensive system works anywhere near as well as claimed, it would seem to be a really bad idea to resume production of this old technology.

Per the article, this production run is a stop gap. The next gen system they (US Army) want is not yet available. They're restocking to cover the interim.
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