What is the purpose of the elevation and lead reticles for the Stinger missile?

• A. Allows the gunner to properly lead the target according to its aspect and automatically compensate for missile tip off at launch
• B. To provide range data
• C. To adjust the missile propulsion
• D. To lock the missile in place

Answer: (A)

These reticles are aiming cues that help you account for moving targets and how the missile behaves once launched. The elevation reticle helps you set vertical aim so the launch line matches the target’s apparent vertical position given its aspect and range. The lead reticle tells you where to aim ahead of where the target is now, compensating for the missile’s flight time and the target’s motion so the missile and target intersect. Because the Stinger’s guidance involves an initial tip-off as the missile starts moving, the reticles are designed to automatically factor in that early motion, keeping your aim point correct as the missile begins flight. In short, together they translate target motion and launch dynamics into a pointing reference that yields an intercept, rather than simply describing range, propulsion, or a locked-in position.