AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
4x4 mobile air defense missile systemFielded 1989Pending verification
Missile ForcesUSA
Missile length 4.95 m
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
Type4x4 mobile air defense missile system
Date of introduction1989
ProliferationAt least 4 countries
Dimensions and weight
Flight performance
Speed89 km/h55 mph · 48 ktAutomated check: outside the expected range for this type; verify against the source.Low[1]
Payload and range
Variants
Boeing/Shorts Starstreak AvengerBoeing 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.[1]
Boeing/Matra GuardianIn the 1990s Boeing teamed with Matra of France to offer the Avenger modified by the substitution of standard triple launcher boxes for Matra Mistral missiles in place of the quadruple Stinger pods of the standard Avenger.[1]
Avengers during the Iraq WarDue 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.[1]
Avenger DEWAnother potential variant proposed by Boeing is an Avenger with a Directed Energy Weapon (DEW). Boeing completed an initial test of a 1 kilowatt laser mounted where the right missile pod would be.[1]
Avenger Multi-Role Weapon SystemTest firing demonstrations took place in 2004 of this variant modified by re-locating the M3P machine gun over the turret cab to allow a 360-degree field of fire, increasing ready-use machine gun ammunition stowage to 600 rounds, and providing the option to…[1]
Accelerated Improved Interceptor InitiatIn February 2012, Raytheon was awarded a contract to develop the AI3, a modified AIM-9 Sidewinder missile mounted on the Avenger launcher, to perform counter rocket, artillery, mortar (C-RAM), counter unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV), and counter cruise…[1]
Other variantsBoeing 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…[1]
The Avenger Air Defense System, designated AN/TWQ-1 under the Joint Electronics Type Designation System, is an American self-propelled surface-to-air missile system which provides mobile, short-range air defense protection for ground units against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters.
Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
- AN/TWQ-1 Avenger American 4x4 Mobile Air Defense Missile System, U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
- 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import