AN/TWQ-1 Avenger

Plastic model kit of an AN/TWQ-1 Avenger

• 1:35 scale
• HMMWV and Avenger PMS turret featuring new molds
• Photo-etched parts included
• Buildable versions:
  • U.S. Army
  • USMC
  • Ukrainian Army
  • Taiwan Army (ROC)
• 2 CDT versions possible
• 2 front bumper options
• Completely new tooling: FIM-92 Stinger launch tube, missile, and booster motor
• Completely new tooling: M3P .50 caliber machine gun
• Basic interior detailing for the missile launcher pod
• Interior detailing for the Avenger PMS turret
• Unassembled, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The AN/TWQ-1 Avenger is a highly mobile short-range air defense (SHORAD) system based on the M1097 HMMWV. It was introduced by the U.S. Army in the late 1980s to protect mobile combat units against low-flying aircraft, attack helicopters, cruise missiles, and - increasingly today - drones. Thanks to the combination of high mobility and modern fire-control technology, the system can follow combat troops directly into the battle.

Its primary armament consists of a rotating turret carrying eight ready-to-fire FIM-92 Stinger guided missiles and a 12.7mm M3P machine gun for engaging light ground and aerial targets. For target acquisition, the Avenger is equipped with a thermal imager, optical sighting systems, a laser rangefinder, and an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system. Target data can also be received from external radar systems, allowing aerial targets to be engaged at long range without the need for an onboard search radar. The vehicle is powered by a 135-horsepower diesel engine, enabling a top speed of around 89 km/h and a range of approximately 440 kilometers. The crew typically consists of two soldiers: a driver and a gunner.

The AN/TWQ-1 Avenger saw its first combat use during the 1990-1991 Gulf War and was subsequently deployed in the Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among other locations; since 2022, it has also been used in Ukraine. Thanks to its high mobility, rapid response time, and proven Stinger guided missiles, it remains one of the most important mobile air defense systems for the US armed forces and their allies.