FAS Military AnalysisNetwork

European Missiles

Aster 15Aster 30Eurosam is a Franco-Italian joint venture created by the French companies Aerospatialeand Thompson-CSF and the Italian firm Alenia/Finmeccanica in order to develop theanti-missile programme FSAF (Future Surface-to-Air Family), which is organised aroundthe Franco-Italian missile Aster. This family has a naval component, the PAAMS(Horizon program) and a mobile land component to be mounted on vehicles which iscurrently under development.The two versions of the missile differ only in the size of their first booster stage and,consequently, their range: from 1.7 to 30 km in the case of the Aster 15, and from three to80 km in the case of the Aster 30. When it enters service, the Aster will be the WesternWorld's first surface-to-air missile with active guidance. The Aster is capable of loadlimits of 60 G in its terminal phase thanks to its aerodynamic pilot, in addition to whichthere are impulses from lateral jets at the center of gravity, making last-minutecorrections of trajectory possible at the moment of interception. That capability makesthe Aster unique in the world.

In December 1997 Aerospatiale announced two significant firing tests of Aster 15 andAster 30 missiles. In the first test an Aster 15 successfully intercepted a sea-skimmingtarget in a very high electronic countermeasures environment. The Aster scored what theFrench immediately called a "Hit-to-Kiss". Aster's impact point was under a meter fromits target's center of gravity. On 11 December 1997, an Aster 30 ground launched missileunderwent s its first validation firing against a real target. The intercept occurred at adistance of 16.2 nm. (30 km) from the launch point at an altitude of 36,000 ft (11,000meters). The C22 target was flying at Mach 0.84 (900 km/h) and the Aster 30intercepting the target head-on and from above at Mach 2.68. The recorded miss-distancewas less than 4 meters.

Aster is capable of evolving in the direction of an antiballistic role in the future. Themissile would be able to deal with ballistic missiles with a range of 1,000 km as theyreenter the atmosphere. The homing head would have to be made more powerful or itsalgorithms speeded up, considering the approach speeds involved. The field of theproximity fuze would have to be reduced from 60o to 30o to increase its sensitivity, andfragmentation of the explosive charge would have to be adjusted to produce largerfragments.

The Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS) is a new surface-to-air missile system,developed essentially to provide medium-range air defence and anti-missile protection forhigh-value units, such as aircraft carriers or merchant tankers, in the vicinity of the escort.The Horizon air defence frigate project involves France, Italy and the United Kingdom.The program covers the ship and secondary weapon systems, and PAAMS. the PAAMShas not suffered from London's recent decision to withdraw from the Horizon frigatesprogram. The Horizon International Joint Venture Co., the prime contractor designated

for the program, is owned by the French firm Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN)International, the British firm GEC-Maritime Ltd., and the Italian company OrrizonteSpA. The operational specifications for the frigate were set out in the "Trilateral StaffRequirements" document signed in 1992. However, the partners encountered majordifficulties in their efforts to reach agreement on the operational capabilities of themissile system.

Crotale (Rattlesnake) / ShahineThe Crotale is a mobile, all-weather, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system. It isdesigned to combat targets flying at a speed of M1.2 at an altitude of 50 to 3,000 m andan equivalent radar area of 1 m{2}. Crotale, developed by Thomson CSF Matra, has aboost/glide trajectory and can be launched from mobile launcher. Fired against targetssuch as aircraft and missiles, the maximum range of the missile is 8km up to 5000maltitude at the a speed of Mach 2.3. This is an all-weather, low altitude mobile air defensemissile weapon system designed to counter air saturation attacks. It is equipped withdigital radio command missile line of sight to target line of sight. Crotale has a singlestage solid propelled rocket motor [designated R.440], and a 15 kg high explosivefocused fragmentation warhead.

A typical platoon consists of one Acquisition and Co-ordination Unit (ACU) and two tothree firing units, with a battery having two platoons. The system cannot operate on themove, but takes less than 5 minutes to become operational once it has stopped. Themissile can be launched within about 6.5 seconds after the target is detected. South Africainitiated the development of the system by the French company Thomson-CSF in 1964,and deliveries to South Africa were completed in 1973. In 1971 the French Air Forcetook an interest int he program, and by 1978 a total of 20 batteries had been delivered.Saudi Arabia became a customer starting in 1975.

In 1975 Saudi Arabia ordered a new version of the Crotale, known as the Shahine,mounted on the chassis of the Giat Industries AMX-30 MBT. The system has a numberof improvements over the standard Crotale. The Saudis also ordered the standard Crotalein late 1978 and an upgraded version in 1990 for their air force.

In November 1988, at the second ASIANDEX exhibition in Beijing, the China PrecisionMachinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC) revealed the FM-80 land-mobileshelter-mounted surface-to-air missile system on two-axle trailers. The FM-80 is verysimilar in concept to the Crotale shelter-mounted version and its naval equivalent.

SpecificationsBuilder

Length 2.89 m

Diameter 0.15 m

Wing span 0.54 m

Launch weight 84 kg

Propulsion solid propellant rocket motor

Guidance command control

Warhead 15 kg HE fragmentation with contact and proximityfuzing

Max speed 750 m/s

Max effective altitude 5,000-5,500 m (depending upon target velocity)

Min effective altitude 15 m

Reaction time, sec 6.5

Reload time 2 min (full 4-round load)

intercept rangemaximum range >10,000 mminimum range 500 m

Target altitude (maximum) >5,000 m(minimum) 15 m

Single-Shot KillProbability 0.8

Radar(s) Thomson-CSF J-band monopulse radar

Detection range, km 18.5

Emplace/displace time(min)

Basic load on vehicle 4 (no reload missiles on board)

Support vehicles radar vehicle

Chassis 4 x 4 TEL

Air defense cannon tank GepardFlugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard

Engine performance: 610 KW(830 HP)Weight: approx. 47 tMaximum speed: approx. 60km/hOperating range: 420 kmCrew: 3Armament:

Twin mountedautomatic cannon 35 mmRate of fire 550 shot foreach tubing/min.Combat distance: 3,500m

JavelinJavelin is a short-range, shoulder launched, close air defence guided weapon system. Itsprimary role is the protection of combat units and static locations against low level airattack. Javelin is an evolution of the Blowpipe system. It is carried in a Land-Rover andtrailer or a Spartan, but is manportable over short distances. Being replaced by StarstreakHVM.

Length 1.4m; Missile Diameter 76cm; Missile Weight 11.1 kgs; Max Range 4.5 kms; Warhead Weight 2.72 kgs; Max Altitude 3,000 feet; Max Speed Mach 1.7 +, Fuse Proximity or Impact; Guidance SACLOS; Mount Man Portable.

MistralThe Mistral, a fire and forget missile, equipped with a high technology infrared hominghead, is fully autonomous after firing. Lightweight (20 kg), it reaches a speed of morethan 800m/second (Mach 2.5) and its guidance accuracy, its manoeuvrability and its laserproximity or impact fuse triggered 3 kg warhead, ensure exceptional effectiveness againstaircraft, helicopters and anti-ship missiles. More than 600 MISTRAL missiles have beenfired under operational conditions with a success rate over 92%. Some 15,000 missileshave been ordered by eight European countries, eight in Asia-Pacific, four in SouthAmerica and three in the Middle-East.

SpecificationsDate Deployed 1988

Range 5 km ( at 4 km effective against helicopters )

Speed 1492 knots

Propulsion two stage solid propellant boost motor

Guidance All-aspect Infra-red

Warhead 3 kg HE tungsten ball

Fuze Laser proximity

Launch Weight 18 kg

Length 1.80 m

Diameter 90mm

Fin Span 180mm

Rapier Field Standard C (FSC)The Rapier FSC system provides a Low Level Air Defence (LLAD) capability over thebattlefield. It consists of a launcher with 8 ready to fire missiles and an electro-opticaltracker (shown). Each fire unit can cover an Air Defence Area (ADA) of approximately100 square kms.

Guidance Semi Automatic to line Sight (SACLOS): Missile Diameter 13.3 cm; Missile Length 2.35m; Rocket Solid Fueled; Warhead High Explosive; Launch Weight 42kg; Speed Mach 2+; Ceiling 3,000m; Maximum Range Around 8 kms; Fire Unit Height 2.13m; Fire Unit Weight 1,227kg; Radar Height (in action) 3.37m; Radar Weight 243kg; Generator Height 0.91m.

RBS 23 BAMSEThe Swedish medium range RBS 23 BAMSE surface-to-air missile, developed by Boforsand Ericsson, is intended to provide air defense to vital targets such as air bases,command centers, and mobile army forces, by facing a number of threats: anti-radiationmissiles and other stand-off weapons, fighter bombers, helicopters and transport aircraft.Pre-series production was scheduled to start in 1998, leading to series production beinglaunched in 2000. The project is in jeopardy because of the austerity program, and thefuture of BAMSE will be decided by the cabinet.

In 1993, the Swedish Government ordered full-scale development of the BAMSE AirDefence Missile System. BAMSE is a joint venture between Bofors Missiles andEricsson Microwave Systems in which Bofors has the overall system responsibility.Series production will begin at the turn of the century.

The system has all-weather capability and a missile range exceeding the stand-offdistance for electro-optical controlled weapons. With an effective altitude coverage ofmore than 12 km and a range of 15 km, the BAMSE system is suitable not only forprotection of vital military objects and manoeuvrable ground forces, but also forprotection of infrastructure vital to an entire nation. In cases where a stand-off missile isreleased from an aircraft outside the range of the air defence system, BAMSE is stillcapable of defeating the attacking missile.

A BAMSE battery comprises one Surveillance Co-ordination Center (SCC) and two tofour Missile Control Centers (MCCs). The Surveillance Co-ordination Center (SCC)SCC has a 3D-surveillance radar with a characteristic 8 or 12 m high antenna mast whichenables it to operate over terrain obstacles. The SCC includes such features as automatictracking, continuous threat evaluation and combat co-ordination. Up to four MCCs can beindividually co-ordinated by an SCC. It also has the capability to co-ordinate and controlother types of Air Defence systems. The MCCs communicate with the SCC by cable,fibre optic cable or different types of radio. The distance to the SCC may vary, but 10 kmcan be regarded as a standard distance.

The Missile Control Center (MCC) contains all the essential elements for CombatControl and Fire Control. The MCC is towed by a cross-country vehicle which alsotransports missiles for reloading. Deployment and fire preparations can be carried out inless than 10 minutes. The MCC Fire Control Radar, Thermal Imaging System, IFF andweather sensor are mounted on a stabilised platform on top of a raisable 8 metre highmast. Guidance of the missile in trajectory is carried out by the Fire Control Radar whichis a further development of the Ericsson Eagle radar and operates on the Ka band, i.e. 34-35 GHz. The capability of the MCC to acquire and track low-flying targets isconsiderably improved by the fact that it is possible to look over obstacles near thedeployment site. Inside the NBC- and splinter-protected MCC, two operators areprovided with a state-of-the-art situational awareness to enable optimal use of the system.

The missile launcher is located on the roof of the MCC and contains four ready-to-firemissiles. Complete reloading takes less than 3 minutes.

The BAMSE missile has high acceleration and subsequently maintained high velocity,resulting in short time-of-flight, even at long ranges. The missile will maintain its highmanoeuvrability right up to the range limit. The high velocity missile has a proximityfuze and an impact fuze. The warhead provides lethal effect against all types of aerialtargets, from small, high velocity targets such as cruise missiles and anti-radiationmissiles, to large low-speed targets such as transport aircraft.

SpecificationsContractor

Entered Service

BAMSE SCC

Function Radar Surveillance and Combat Co-ordination

Cabin Truck-mounted 20 ft (ISO) standard container

Protection Against splinter and NBC

Crew 1 - 2

Radar Ericsson Giraffe AMB 3D radar

Frequency C (G) -band

Instrumented range 30, 60, 100 km

Altitude coverage More than 20,000 metres

IFF Mounted back-to-back on radar antenna

BAMSE MCC

Function Combat Control & Fire Control

Cabin Towed, air, sea and land transportable

Protection Against splinter and NBC

Crew 1 - 2

Tracking radar Based on Ericsson Eagle radar

Frequency Ka (K) -band

Range 30 km

Other sensors Thermal Imaging System, Weather Sensor

IFF Built-in IFF antenna.

BAMSE Missile

Velocity High velocity out to effective range

Manoeuvrability Very high within effective range

Effective missile range 15 km (+)

Effective missilealtitude coverage Up to 15,000 metres

Guidance Command to Line-Of-Sight (CLOS) guidance

Warhead Combined function of fragmentation and shapedcharge

Fuze Proximity fuze and Impact fuze

Target typesAttack aircraft, bombers and transport aircraft,combat and transport helicopter, stand-off missiles(CM, ARM, etc.) and guided bombs

RBS 70The RBS 70 is one of Bofors most well-known and established air defence system ever.This air defence missile system is operational in 13 customer countries all over the world.In addition to the Army system, it is also operational in some countries in other servicesas Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. The RBS 70 has been under constant improvementadapted to the most sophisticated future threat and using the latest solutions in missiletechnology.The RBS 70 was initially developed for the Swedish Armed Forces requiring:

Long intercept range in the head-on sector High accuracy and kill probability Immune to all known hostile and natural jamming Down to the ground capability Command to Line of Sight Growth potential to night capability

Bofors selected laser guidance solution in order to fulfil these essential requirements.RBS 70 was the first laser guided defence missile system in the world, which means wehave a long experience in this technology. From the very first, the RBS 70 was developedas a complete missile system and also given a potential of integration with most wheeledand tracked vehicles. The RBS 70 is superior to competitive man-portable air defencemissile systems. Because of its 7 km intercept range in the head-on sector range it reallybelongs to a class other than the VSHORAD.In its basic configuration the RBS 70 comprises a tripod, sight and missile. In a completesystem configuration several fire units can be connected to a surveillance radar enablingall C3I functions. A number of radar options with ready interface are available. Andautomatic threat evaluation is a part of the combat control at two separate levels.If RBS 70 isn’t interfaced with a surveillance radar it can operate autonomously. In theRBS 70 VLM (Vehicle Launched Missile) for wheeled and tracked applications, the RBS70 can easily be dismounted and used independently. With a Clip-on Night Device,designated COND, the RBS 70 can operate 24 hours a day. A complete RBS 70 fire unitconsisting of the weapon itself, COND and Battlefield Management Terminal (BMT)requires only batteries as power supply. No cooling gas is required.The Missile Mk 2 operates with the most modern control method in missile guidance, theLinear Quadratic Method, based on the Kalman Theory. The missile’s shaped charge issurrounded by more than 3 000 tungsten pellets. The jet of the shaped charge canpenetrate any aerial threat. And if the target is carrying armour the penetration will befollowed immediately by a severe behind the armour effect. In some intercept situationsthe combined effect of shaped charge and tungsten pellets will cause a devastating effect.The laser operated proximity fuze is, like the rest of the system, unjammable. The highsystem reliability with the latest missile is more than 0.93 verified by big customers asthe Swedish and Norwegian Armed Forces.

SpecificationsGuidance method Laser beam riding missile

Effective range 7,000 m

Height coverage 4,000 m

Deployment time 30 sec

Reloading time incl.new firing Less than 7 sec

Propulsion Booster and sustainer with smokeless solid propellant

Fuze Laser proximity fuze with impact function.Disconnectable by operator.

Warhead Combined with prefragmentation and shaped charge(armour piercing)

Kill probability >90 % in the head-on sector.

Basic load on vehicle

Detection range, km

Reaction time, sec 4-5

Speed Mach 1.6

Radar(s) Ericsson PS-70R Giraffe G/H-band radar

Emplace/displace time(min) 1 min

Support vehicles 4 x 4 radar vehicle

Chassis Tripod firing stand

Weight

sight 35 kg

stand 25 kg

missile (in container) 26.5 kg

Night Sight (Clip-onNight Device)

Easy mechanical clip-on with same systemperformance as during daytime. No alignment.Closed-loop cooling system. 8 -12 m m IR-wavelength.

IFF Can be connected. Interface with automatic queriesincluded in design.

C3I Various C3I-concepts available.

RolandThe ROLAND 2 weapon system is intended for anti-aircraft defence of armoured andmechanized the units to counter aircraft flying to nearly Mach 1.5 and hoveringhelicopters. ROLAND is generally employed either in complement of the coverage ofHAWK defense of zones and corridors not defended by the HAWK, or in prolongation ofthe HAWK front. ROLAND ensures the overall defense of a zone of 100 km2 vis-a-vis athreat consisted by a patrol of 4 planes or 2 patrols acting at more than 20 secondintervals. Deployed on a tracked vehicle derived from the tank AMX 30, it comprises aradar with a range of 16 km, a sighting tube with an infra-red locator that measures thedifference between the missile in flight and the line of sight of the fire control radar, anda computer antenna for remote control

Two arm-beams for launching carry each one a missile in its launching tube, and twoammunition stores for munitions each contain one 4 shot mechanism forautomaticunloading of the arm-beam. The crew of the vehicle consists of three man.

Three operating modes are available in the ROLAND 2: the optical mode; the moderadar; and the optical mode recopy-radar or radar-recopy-optics. Whatever operatingmode is chosen, the target is detected by the radar, search in site and the continuation ofthe target after acquisition is carried out manually in radar mode. In the third mode, oneof the means of continuation is controlled to the different one, which facilitates theircommunication. After the firing, the optics or the radar remain pointed at the target, thecomputer generates the commands for guidance by using two different groups ofmeasurements: starting from the measurement angular velocities of pointing andprogrammed values of the distance precise alignment is obtained while adding to theresult preceding the commands necessary to the correction by the real variations of themissile compared to the axis of aiming measured by the infra-red goniometer (opticalmode), or compared to the direction of the target the commands are transmitted to themissile by the transmitter of remote control.

The missile is ready with the shooting inside its container (tactical packing), itself placedunder the arms launchers of the tank. The vehicle has two missiles ready for firing andeight in the trunks.

The American ROLAND program was canceled in September 1981. Previously, low-rateproduction (LRP) had been approved in FY 79 and FY 80. The initial LRP contracts werelet in October 1979, with planned procurement based upon the eventual production of fireunits and missiles to support a four-battalion force structure concept. Subsequent budgetdecisions by President Carter reduced quantities at first to a two-battalion force, then toone battalion. The DOD budget approved by President Reagan in March 1981 originallyredirected the program back to four battalions, until it was decided to terminate thiseffort.

Specifications

Surface to Air (SAM) Roland II

Rangemaximum: 6 000 mminimal: 700 to 2 000 m according to theCeiling

Altitude, (m) 5,500

Basic load on vehicle 10 missiles(2 per launcher)

Detection range, km 16.5Reaction time, sec 4-10

Firing time, sec 1st shooting: 8 to 10 secondslater shooting: 2 to 6 seconds

Speed Mach 1.6Reload time approximately 10 secondProbability of hit 80%Warhead HE hollow chargeCommand guidance RF SACLOS or CLOS

Radar(s)

Siemens/Thomson-CSF D-band pulse-Dopplersearch radar,Thomson-CSF J-Band monopulse Dopplertracking radar

Emplace/displace time(min) 3

Support vehicles NoneChassis AMX-30 , Marder APC, trucks, or in fixed shelters

Sea WolfSea Wolf is a high speed close-range anti-missile with a guidance system of semi-automatic command to line of sight with radar and/or infra-red missile and targettracking. Seawolf is the only widely used missile in the world that was designedspecifically to kill incoming anti-ship missiles. This closein defense system is designed tohandle antiship missiles in speeds up to Mach 2. The Seawolf missile has successfullydestroyed the Exocet missile. It is fitted in Type 22 (Batch 1, 2 and 3) Frigates. The DukeClass Type 23 Frigates have had BAe's vertical launch Seawolf system installed andtested. The missiles are fitted into sealed canisters in a 32cannister silo. Missile exhaustgases are directed up and out the sides of the canister. The missile uses a thrust vectoringboost motor for getting the missile up, out and turned over, then the main motor ignites.The thrust vector and boost motor unit is jettisoned and thereby increases per missilefiring costs a compared to other missiles. It is expected that this VLS will be installed onall Type 23 frigates. In late 1997 the MoD invited initial expressions of interest in aproposed Seawolf mid-life update.

SpecificationsContractor

Entered Service

Total length 1.90m (6ft 2.8in)

Diameter 0.30m (11.8in)

Wingspan 0.45m (1ft 5.7in)

Weight Total round 82-kg (180.4-lb)

Warhead HE-fragmentation

Propulsion

Maximum Speed Mach 2+

Maximum effectiverange

6.5km (4.04 miles) or10km (6.2 miles) in vertical-launch4.7-3050m (15-10,000ft) altitude limit

Guidance mode

Single-shot hitprobability

Starstreak HVMStarstreak HVM (High Velocity Missile) continues the development path of bothBlowpipe and Javelin. It can be shoulder launched, fired from the Lightweight MultipleLauncher (LML) or vehicle borne on the Alvis Stormer APC which has an 8 roundlauncher (12 reload missiles can be carried inside the vehicle). Starstreak is designed tocounter threats from very high performance low flying aircraft and fast pop-up typestrikes by attack helicopters.

Missile Length 1.39m; Missile Diameter 0.27m; Missile Speed Mach 3+; Max Range 5 kms; Min Range 300m

The missile is boosted to maximum velocity by a two-stage propulsion system at whichpoint three darts, each with an impact fuze, are released and are guided on to the target bythe operator. HVM offers a high kill probability against fixed- and rotary-wing targetsincluding pop-up helicopters. While the SL and LML configurations provide greatflexibility in terms of deployment options, the Army’s highly mobile, armoured vehicle-based SP version has been specifically designed to provide close air defence of armouredformations.

Air Defence Alerting Device

The Air Defence Alerting device is a passive air defence alerter designed to work inconjunction with the HVM missile system. Operating as an infra red search and trackingsystem in the 8 - 14 micron waveband, the alerter is designed to operate against low andfast moving fixed wing aircraft, as well as the latest generation of attack helicopters. Thealerter can be ground mounted to support shoulder launched / LML HVM or vehiclemounted on the Stormer HVM vehicle.

Aspide Mk1/Mk2The Italian Aspide, basically a licensed version of the American Sparrow, is similarlyemployed as both an air-to-air and surface-to-air missile, and in the later role it islaunched from both ships and ground platforms. The AIM-7E Sparrow entered service in1962 and was widely used as a standard for other variants such as the Sky Flash (UK)and Aspide (Italy). Alenia Difesa offers a complete range of systems, including the air toair and surface to air systems based on Aspide missile (Spada, Skyguard, Albatros,ARAMIS).

The Chinese PL-11 medium-range AAM is based on the Aspide, which was acquired byChina in the late 1980s for use in the air-to-air roles, and as with the American and Italianversion, subsequently in the LY-60 system modified for both ground and naval airdefence applications. In reaction to the Tiananmen Square massacre, the EuropeanCouncil--an EU decision-making body comprised of ministers from EU membercountries--imposed several sanctions in June 1989, including "an embargo on trade inarms with China." The deliveries of Italian Aspide air-to-air missiles appear to have beenmade in connection with pre-embargo agreements. Although a contract for the Aspidesystem has been signed with Italian firm Alinea, the government in Rome had not givenits permission to export the missiles to Cyprus, fearing the deployment would only fuelexisting tensions.

Through Alenia Difesa, Finmeccanica offers a complete range of systems, including thesurface to air systems based on the Aspide missile (Spada, Skyguard, Albatros,ARAMIS);

SpecificationsManafacturer Selenia

Date Deployed 1987

Range 75 km

Ceiling/b> 8000 m above the launch point

Speed Mach 4 / 4680 km/h

Propulsion One SNIA-Viscosa solid-propellant rocket motor

Guidance Selenia monopulse semi-active radar homing

Warhead72.75 lb ( 33 kg ) SNIA Difesa e Spazioblast/fragmentation: doppler proximity- and direct action-fuzed

Launch Weight 485 lb ( 220 kg ) 230 kg

Length 12 ft, 1.67 in ( 3.70 m ) 3.65 m

Diameter 8 in ( 203 mm ) 210 mm

Fin Span 3 ft, 3.4 in ( 1.00 m ) same

Specifications - Skyguard SAMCapacity discoveryradar 20 Km

N. fire channels 2

N. ready missiles tothe launch 12

Time reactionarranges 11 sec

The maximumcapacity

10 Km

Minimal capacity 750 m

The maximum quota 3.5 Km approximately

Guidance system homing semiactive

Weight of the missile 220 Kg approximately

maximum speed ofthe missile 650 m/sec

Single-shot hitprobability (SSKP) 80%

Aspide Mk1/Mk2The Italian Aspide, basically a licensed version of the American Sparrow, is similarlyemployed as both an air-to-air and surface-to-air missile, and in the later role it islaunched from both ships and ground platforms. The AIM-7E Sparrow entered service in1962 and was widely used as a standard for other variants such as the Sky Flash (UK)and Aspide (Italy). Alenia Difesa offers a complete range of systems, including the air toair and surface to air systems based on Aspide missile (Spada, Skyguard, Albatros,ARAMIS).

The Chinese PL-11 medium-range AAM is based on the Aspide, which was acquired byChina in the late 1980s for use in the air-to-air roles, and as with the American and Italianversion, subsequently in the LY-60 system modified for both ground and naval airdefence applications. In reaction to the Tiananmen Square massacre, the EuropeanCouncil--an EU decision-making body comprised of ministers from EU membercountries--imposed several sanctions in June 1989, including "an embargo on trade inarms with China." The deliveries of Italian Aspide air-to-air missiles appear to have beenmade in connection with pre-embargo agreements. Although a contract for the Aspidesystem has been signed with Italian firm Alinea, the government in Rome had not givenits permission to export the missiles to Cyprus, fearing the deployment would only fuelexisting tensions.

Through Alenia Difesa, Finmeccanica offers a complete range of systems, including thesurface to air systems based on the Aspide missile (Spada, Skyguard, Albatros,ARAMIS);

SpecificationsManafacturer Selenia

Date Deployed 1987

Range 75 km

Ceiling/b> 8000 m above the launch point

Speed Mach 4 / 4680 km/h

Propulsion One SNIA-Viscosa solid-propellant rocket motor

Guidance Selenia monopulse semi-active radar homing

Warhead72.75 lb ( 33 kg ) SNIA Difesa e Spazioblast/fragmentation: doppler proximity- and direct action-fuzed

Launch Weight 485 lb ( 220 kg ) 230 kg

Length 12 ft, 1.67 in ( 3.70 m ) 3.65 m

Diameter 8 in ( 203 mm ) 210 mm

Fin Span 3 ft, 3.4 in ( 1.00 m ) same

Specifications - Skyguard SAMCapacity discoveryradar 20 Km

N. fire channels 2

N. ready missiles tothe launch 12

Time reactionarranges 11 sec

The maximumcapacity

10 Km

Minimal capacity 750 m

The maximum quota 3.5 Km approximately

Guidance system homing semiactive

Weight of the missile 220 Kg approximately

maximum speed ofthe missile 650 m/sec

Single-shot hitprobability (SSKP) 80%

AIM-132 ASRAAMThe Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) is a state of the art, highlymanoeuvrable and combat effective weapon. Many combat aircraft are currentlyequipped with radar-guided AIM-120 AMRAAM for long range engagements and theAIM-9 Sidewinder for close combat. The two missiles are an ill-matched pair, sincenearly four decades separates their origins. construction. While AMRAAM is highlyeffective at ranges between 5-50 kilometers, its usefulness diminishes rapidly at a shorterranges.A rival to the American-built AIM-9X Sidewinder, ASRAAM is equipped with aRaytheon-Hughes infrared seeker which is the baseline for the company's AIM-9Xseeker. The company developed an infrared seeker featuring a unique sapphire dome aspart of an engineering-manufacturing-development and production effort valued at $215million. This ASRAAM seeker played a part the company's competitive win of the AIM-9X missile contract that could lead to some $5 billion in business over the next 20 years.

ASRAAM was initiated in the 1980's by Germany and the United Kingdom, but the twocountries were unable to agree on the details of the joint-venture. Germany left theASRAAM project in the early 1990s, and in the spring of 1995 initiated an improvedversion of the Sidewinder, the IRIS-T (Infra Red Imagery Sidewinder-Tail controlled)built by Bodensee Geraetetechnik GmBH (BGT). This decision was largely motivated bynew insights into the performance of the Russian AA- 11 Archer missile carried by theMiG-29s which Germany inherited during reunification. The Luftwaffe concluded thatthe AA-11's performance had been seriously underestimated -- the AA-11 turned out tobe superior to the Sidewinder AIM-9L in all respects: homing head field of view,acquisition range, maneuverability, ease of designation, and target lock-on. The Germansconcluded that the ASRAAM demonstrated a serious lack of agility compared to theRussian Archer.

The British Government has spent 636 million pounds (about one billion dollars) since1992 developing and industrializing ASRAAM. The first ASRAAM was delivered to theRAF [Royal Air Force] in late 1998. It will be used to equip the RAF's Tornado F3 andHarrier GR-7 before the missile becomes the British Eurofighter standard short-rangeweapon.In January 1995 British Aerospace Dynamics, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England, wasawarded a letter contract with a ceiling amount of $10,933,154 for foreign comparativetesting [FCT] of the ASRAAM Missile. The purpose of the testing is to gather data todetermine if the missile meets AIM-9X operational requirements. Work was performed inStevenage, Hertfordshire, England (50%), Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (25%), andChina Lake, California (25%), and was completed by June 1996. The tests focused on therisk areas of the ASRAAM: focal plane array effectiveness, seeker signal processing,warhead effectiveness, rocket motor testing, and kinematic/guidance ability to support thelethality requirements of the AIM-9X. After several modifications to the scope of theFCT, the program assessed four ground-to-air sorties, 19 air-to-air captive carry sorties,four programmed missile launches, eight static warhead tests, and four rocket motor case

tests. The resulting assessment was that the ASRAAM (as is) could not meet the AIM-9Xoperational requirements in high off-boresight angle performance, infrared counter-countermeasures robustness, lethality, and interoperability. Subsequently, Hughes andBAe proposed an improved "P3I ASRAAM" using thrust-vectoring to provide increasedagility and to carry a heavier warhead.

In February 1998 the British-French Matra British Aerospace consortium [formed in1996] won a multi-million dollar contract to supply the ASRAAM missile to theAustralian Air Force to be used on the F/A-18 Hornet. marking the first export sale. Thefirst missiles should be delivered between 1999 and the year 2000.

SpecificationsManafacturer British Aerospace

Date Deployed 1998 ?

Range 8 nm ( 300 m to 15 km )

Speed Mach 3+

Propulsion One dual-thrust solid-propellant rocket motor

Guidance strapdown inertial and Imaging Infrared

Warhead 22.05 lb ( 10 kg ) blast/fragmentation

Launch Weight 220.5 lb ( 100 kg )

Length 8 ft, 11.5 in ( 2.73 m )

Diameter 6.6 in ( 0.168 m )

Fin Span 17.7 inches ( 45 cm )

Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile(BVRAAM)Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile (BVRAAM) is intended to be the principle air-to-air weapon system for Eurofighter. The combination of Eurofighter and a missilewhose range and no escape zone exceeds any other current or projected system over thenext decade will ensure the enhanced capability of the RAF in any future conflict.BVRAAM is designed to provide performance, particularly kinematic performance,several times that of existing Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (MRAAMs). Theincreased performance will enable pilots to fully exploit the capabilities of their newaircraft and dominate long range air defence engagements in a manner that no lesser asolution can achieve.There is no active radar guided air -to-air missile in service with the Royal Air Force. SkyFlash is a semi-active missile and requires the launch aircraft to illuminate the targetthroughout the time of flight of the missile, which makes it vulnerable to counter attack.Although Eurofighter will enter service with an AMRAAM capability, BVRAAM willgive Eurofighter the capability to engage multiple targets simultaneously, independent ofparent aircraft manoeuvre, at greater range than AMRAAM and in all weathers day ornight. The UK’s Eurofighter partners (Germany, Italy and Spain) and Sweden have aninterest in procuring a missile meeting these requirements and have been fully involvedin the tender assessment, with representatives collocated at Abbey Wood.

A single fighter, equipped with an operational load of BVRAAM missiles, has thepotential to destroy even the most maneuvrable of fighters well before they reach combatrange, and simultaneously engage bombers at long range. Targets are prioritised prior tolaunch, and the missiles are fired towards the predicted interception points. Meanwhiletarget information can be updated, via the data-link, throughout the initial flight - eitherfrom the launch aircraft or from a third party such as AWACs. Tactical information onthe missile can also be received by the controlling aircraft. At the appropriate time,BVRAAM’s active radar seeker autonomously searches for and locks onto the target. Themissile is now fully autonomous, making its own decisions to home in on the target,despite any evasive manoeuvres, or decoys or sophisticated electronic countermeasures.

The BVRAAM Invitation to Tender (ITT) was issued in 1995. Bids were received fromtwo consortia: one led by BAe (now Matra BAe Dynamics Ltd (MBD)), offering a newsystem called Meteor and one led by Hughes UK Ltd (now Raytheon Systems Ltd(RSL)), offering a development of the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile(AMRAAM) called Future Medium Range Air to Air Missile (FMRAAM). The Meteorprime contractor is MBD with partners Alenia, CASA, DASA-LFK, GEC Marconi andSAAB. The FMRAAM prime contractor is RSL with Raytheon Missile Systems,Aerospatiale, RO, Fokker and Thomson Thorn.

Raytheon offered FMRAAM (Future Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile) for the fullBVRAAM requirement. Moreover, at the MoD's request for a lower cost and lower risk

staged-approach to BVRAAM, Raytheon have offered ERAAM (Extended Range Air-to-Air Missile) which provides 80% of the performance of BVRAAM at 50% of the price.Raytheon has also offered an upgrade path for the AMRAAMs that the MoD willpurchase to initially arm Eurofighter, called AMRAAM B+.

Meteor had been bid by Matra BAe Dynamics [MBD] to meet the UK MoD’s StaffRequirement 1239, for a Beyond Visual Range Air-To-Air Missile (BVRAAM) system.Meteor is being offered as a pan-European solution for the EF-2000 and Gripen. TheMeteor team comprises Matra BAe Dynamics as the Missile Prime Contractor, withMarconi Electronic Systems taking responsibility in the guidance systems as the SeekerPrime Contractor. The active radar seeker is the brains of the missile, and is the result ofDynamics Division’s experience in high technology guidance systems. Other industrialpartners are Alenia, Marconi’s Italian joint-venture partner, DASA LFK of Germany,SAAB of Sweden and CASA from Spain, making it a truly European project. As such, bysharing development and aircraft integration costs Meteor provides a reliable and costeffective solution to Europe’s requirements for BVRAAM and MRAAM (Medium RangeAir-to-Air Missiles). There have been a number of changes to the Meteor configuration,the most obvious being the addition of mid-mounted wings. Meteor will be fitted with asolid propellant variable flow ducted ramjet which the Meteor partners see as essential indelivering the performance characteristics necessary to meet the threat.

The initial tender assessment identified significant risks within both proposals thatprecluded down selection and award of a Development and Production Contract. A 12-month Project Definition and Risk Reduction phase was introduced with each bidder, at atotal cost of £10 million, and contracts were placed in July 1997. Revised proposals werereceived in May 1998 and assessment is underway with contract award scheduled for late1999.

In May 1998 Secretary of Defense, William Cohen gave assurances to British DefenceSecretary, George Robertson that the US would ensure a fair international competitiveenvironment for future fighter competitions and that the US would allow the marketing ofAMRAAM-based BVRAAMs on Eurofighter to any nation approved for AMRAAM.

Magic R.550The largest single competitor for Sidewinder in Western Europe, the Matra Magic R.550has better design and performance requirements. It can be fired at any speed (nominimum), meaning that it is a prime candidate for the arming of attack helicopters.Magic is slightly larger in diameter than Sidewinder, but the launch installationcomponents in the carrying aircraft were wisely made interchangeable. The tail fins of theR.550 are free to rotate around the rocket's nozzle, providing of spin-stabilization. Thewarhead weighs 12.5 kg, and can be delivered at ranges of more than 6.2 miles.

SpecificationsMajor operationalcapabilities :

All-directions missile

Builder : Matra

In-service in theFrench Air Force :

1988

Propellant Solid propellant

Propulsion time : 2.2 s

Range 8 miles

Speed Mach 2.7 / 500 m/s in addition to carrier’s speed

Length / Diameter : 2.75 m / 0.16 m

Weight 196 lbs / 89 kg

Warhead HE blast fragmentation

Payload : 12.5 kg (fragmentation)

Guidance all-aspect infrared

Fuze radio frequency (RF) proximity

Main user nations : Greece, Egypt, Spain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates

Possible carryingaircraft :

All French Air Force and Navy fighters

MicaThe Matra BAe Dynamics Mica is an innovative lightweight missile that can bothintercept incoming missiles and fire at multiple targets. The Mica is an advancedmedium-range missile that is the French counterpart to the more capable AmericanAMRAAM missile. Variants include active radar and infra-red homing, providing aunique ability to select target-engagement options for both short and medium-rangeintercepts. The 4A active anti-air seeker was developed by Dassault Electronique withinthe framework of a European cooperation, both for the Mica air-to-air missile and, in aslightly different version, for Eurosam's Aster surface-to-air missile.

SpecificationsGuidance Command, inertial and Active radar or imaging IR

Propellant Solid propellant

Fuze Active Radar

Range 50 km / 28 miles

Speed Mach 4

Length 10 ft

Weight 243 lbs

Warhead 12 kg HE blast fragmentation

SkyflashSkyflash is a medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile. Designed to operate in severeelectronic countermeasures conditions, the Skyflash is the RAF's major air defenceweapon. Four are carried by the Tornado F3 under the fuselage. The Skyflash was adevelopment of the AIM-7E2 Sparrow, retaining its aerodynamics, with a cruciform ofdelta control wings mounted on the mid-point of the cylindrical body. It also features acompatible cruciform of delta stabilising surfaces at the tail. The weapon entered RAFservice in 1978, originally for use by the Phantom.

SpecificationsManafacturer British Aerospace

Date Deployed 1978

Range 28 miles ( 45 km )

Speed Mach 4

Propulsion One Aerojet Mk52 Mod 2 orRocketdyne Mk38 Mod 4 solid-propellant rocket motor

Guidance Marconi XJ521 monopulse Semi-Active Radar Homing

Warhead 87 lb ( 39.5-kg ) HE fragmentation with contact, delayaction fuses.

Launch Weight 425 pounds ( 192.8 kg )

Length 12 ft, 1 in ( 3.68 m )

Diameter 8 in ( 0.203 m )

Fin Span 3 ft, 4 in ( 1.02 m )

Super 530DThis missile, with its unusual fin configuration, was capable of outflying any other air-to-air missile of its day with the sole exception of the Phoenix. Its Butalane compositepropellant rapidly accelerates this missile to an incredible Mach 4.5, and sustains thisspeed for four seconds until burnout. At this speed the long low-aspect wings are notnecessary, as maneuvering is performed by the rather strangely shaped tail surfaces. It isthe heavyweight of the Matra line, weighing approximately 529 pounds at launch. Matrais now working to replace the Super 530D with the similar, but much slimmer, MatraMICA.

SpecificationsManafacturer Matra

Date Deployed 1988

Range 37 km

Speed Mach 3.7

Guidance EMD Super AD26 semi-active radar homing

Warhead66.1 lb ( 31 kg ) HE fragmentation with radar proximityfuze( active radar fuze for D model)

Propulsion time 8 seconds

Launch Weight 275 kg

Length 3.81 m

Diameter 0.26 m

Tailspan 2 ft, 1.2 in ( 0.64 m ) forward fins2 ft 11.4 in ( 0.88 m ) aft fins

ALARM (Air-Launched Anti-RadarMissile)The ALARM (Air-Launched Anti-Radar Missile) is designed to destroy ground-based airdefence radars and surface-to-air missile radars, thereby providing support to attackaircraft while penetrating hostile air defences. It does this by homing on to radartransmissions and following them down to their source. It entered service in the early1990s and proved very effective in the Gulf War. A Tornado GR1 can carry sevenALARMs. One unique feature is the optional capability to loiter over a target area whilecontinuing to search for targets. It provides attack aircraft with an on-board suppressioncapability which will enable them to press home attacks against heavily defended targetswith a high probability of success.When fired at an enemy radar source, the enemy can often detect the incoming missileand switch off their equipment, thereby depriving the missile of a target. ALARM willascend to 40,000 feet from where it will deploy a parachute and descending slowly, usingits seeker to search for any radiation source. Once the target has been acquired, themissile released the parachute and falls under gravity to the target. One other advantagewith this system is that if the target shuts down before the missile has destroyed it, themissile remembers the location and will still hit the target. ALARM also has severaldirect modes, the an one allowing the missile to be fired directly at the SAM once theemitter has been located.Manufacturer: British Aerospace / MarconiLength: 13' 9" /4.24 m. D: 23 cm. Span: 73 cm. Weight: 200 kg.

Exocet AM.39 / MM.40Exocet missiles started in development in 1967, originally as the ship-launched variantMM 38 which entered service in 1975. The air-launched version, AM 39, was developedlater starting in 1974 and entering service with the French Navy in 1979. The missile isdesigned to attack large warships. A block 2 upgrade programme was carried out fromthe late 1980s until 1993, and introduced an improved digital active radar seeker andupgraded inertial navigation and control electronics.

The Exocet has four clipped delta wings at mid-body and four raked clipped-tip movingdelta control fins at the rear. The missile is 4.7 m long, has a body diameter of 350 mmand a wingspan of 1.1 m. The missile weighs 670 kg and has a 165 kg HE shaped chargefragmentation warhead. Guidance in the mid-course phase is inertial, followed by anactive radar terminal phase. There is also a radar altimeter to control the sea-skimmingtrajectory, at around 10.0 m until the terminal phase when, in calm sea conditions, themissile can descend to 3.0 m or so. The solid propellant motor gives Exocet a range ofabout 50 km, but when released from 10,000 m (32,800 ft) the range achieved wasreported to be 70 km.

SpecificationsContractor Aerospatiale

Entered Service 1977

Total length 580 cm

Diameter 34.8 cm

Wingspan 113.5 cm

Weight 855 kg

Warhead impact with delay- and proximity-fuzedhigh-explosive shaped charge, 165 kg

Propulsion : Condor solid propellant booster, 2 s burn;Helios solid propellant sustainer, 150 s burn

Maximum Speed Mach 0.93

Maximum effectiverange 65 km

Guidance mode ESD ADAC X-band monopulse active radar homing

Single-shot hitprobability

Service France, Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Singapore,Brazil, Oman, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar,

Peru.

ApacheAPACHE is Europe's first operational conventional warhead air-to-ground missile whichcan be launched from outside of the range of all anti-aircraft defences. It can hit a varietyof targets, day or night, and is fired from 140 km away thus reducing the dangers for thepilot and crew. This stealthy air-to-ground standoff missile can be launched from theMirage 2000, or the Rafale, both aircraft of the French Air Forces to neutralise enemy airbases and ensure the control of the skies necessary for troop deployment.The APACHE AP weighs 1,230 kg and is powered by a TRI 60-30 turbojet, and isdesigned for carrying and ejecting ten KRISS sub-munitions to neutralise airfieldrunways. The detonation of each of the ten KRISS sub-munitions, which are designed topenetrate concrete, can be programmed in order to prevent repair work being carried outand thus neutralise the airfield for a longer period of time. The APACHE AP is a stealthmissile, with a low level of vulnerability achieved by its radar and infrared profiles(materials, shapes and propulsion), its contour hugging flight at very low altitude (weaksignature "drowned out" by ground echoes) and the optimisation of its flight path withregard to defence systems (extremely detailed mission planning). The quality of itsnavigational abilities combine with its terminal accuracy to make it extremely effective.The APACHE IZ (Interdiction area) also forms a part of the 1997-2002 national militaryplan.

On October 30, 1997 Matra BAe Dynamics (a subsidiary of the Lagardère and BritishAerospace groups), Europe's leading company in guided weapons, won an order worthapproximately 1.5 billion francs from the French Ministry of Defence's DélégationGénérale pour l'Armement (DGA), for one hundred APACHE AP missiles. The assemblyof the missiles will take place in France at Matra BAe Dynamics' Selles Saint-Denis(Loir-et-Cher) site, with its La Croix Saint-Ouen (Oise) and Salbris (Loir-et-Cher) sitessupplying components. The firing tests at the Landes Test Centre (France) and in Swedenrepresented the culmination of the development phase, which began in 1989. The firstqualification firing was successfully carried out in Sweden in August 1997.

SpecificationsCountry of Origin France

Similar AerialPlatform Tomahawk, AGM-86

Role Cruise, air-to-ground attack

Armament Submunitions and HE warhead

Length 16 ft, 4 in (5.01 m)

Span 8 ft, 3 in (2.53 m)

AS 37 MartelAS 37 ArmatAJ.168 MartelThe AS 37 is the product of a collaboration between the British firm of Hawker-Siddely,and Matra in France. The AS.37, employed by both the British and the French, uses amovable receiver aerial to lock onto the hostile radar emission and send guidance signalsto the small set of control fins behind the wings. Length of the AS.37 version Martel isreported at 412 centimeters, and it weighs 1213 lbs. at launch. Speed is high subsonic,although it is claimed to break the sound barrier in a steep attack. The updated version ofthe AS-37, known as the Armat, was introduced in 1984 using the same airframe but withan updated radar seeker. The somewhat shorter, television-guided AJ.168 version of theMartel is used only by the British. The firms Electronique Marcel Dassault (France) andMarconi (UK) took part in developing the missile. The former created the guidancesystem for the AS- 37 version and the latter the electronics for the AJ-168 version.

SpecificationsContractor Matra

Year 1984

Type standoff anti-radar missile

Wingspan 1.2 m

Length 3.9 m

Diameter 0.40 m

Launch weight 550 kg

Max. speed 1025 km/h

Maximum range 120 km

Propulsion two stage solid propellant rocket motors, 2.4 s boost,22.2 s sustain

Guidance passive radar homing

Warhead proximity-fuzed with delayed impact high-explosiveblast fragmentation, 150 kg

Service France, Kuwait, Iraq.

AS.15

SpecificationsContractor Aerospatiale

Year 1985

Type standoff anti-ship missile

Modifications AS.15 - basic missileAS.15TT - all-weather version

Service France, Saudi Arabia.

Wingspan 0.58 m

Length 2.3 m

Diameter 0.18 m

Launch weight 100 kg

Max. speed 1000 km/h

Maximum range 15 km

Propulsion smokeless nitramite solid propellant rocket motor, 45second burn

Guidance radio commands

Warhead impact-fuzed with delay high-explosive, 30 kg

AS-30LThe AS-30L missile (launch weight 520 kg, warhead weight 240 kg) has a maximumairspeed of Mach 1.5 and a range of fire from 3 to 10 km. The power plant is a solid-propellant missile engine with two degrees of thrust. Missile control is hydrodynamicwith the help of jet stream reflectors. Employment of the missiles from French Jaguaraircraft in the Persian Gulf war proved very effective. In the course of combat sorties,AS-30L launches usually were made from a dive at an altitude of 1.3 km (dive entryaltitude 2.2 km).

SpecificationsAerospatiale

Year 1973

In-service in theFrench ArmedForces :

1985 (on Jaguar), 1993 (on Mirage 2000D), 1995 (onupgraded Super Etendard)

Type short- to medium-range standoff missile

Typical mission Bombardment of targets requiring high precision

Modifications AS.30 - basic missileAS.30L - laser-guided version [Data for AS.30L]

Wingspan 1.0 m

Length 3.7 m

Diameter 0.34 m

Launch weight 520 kg

Max. speed 1700 km/h

Ceiling 10000 m

Minimum range 3 km

Maximum range 11 km

Propulsion two stage solid propellant rocket motors, compositebooster, double-based sustainer

Guidance semi-active laser homing

Warheadimpact-fuzed high-explosive semi-armor piercing,240 kgCan pierce 2 meters of concrete before blowing up

Ignition : Impact fuse with possible retarded spark

Special relatedequipment :

Laser pod Atlis (Thomson-CSF)

Laser designation pod with thermal camera(Thomson-CSF)

Major operationalcapabilities :

High accuracy on target (1m) with ground or airbornelaser lightning (pod Atlis or PDL-CT)

Success rate of 97% for about 60 missiles launched inthe Gulf in 1991 and in Bosnia in 1995

Number of unitsproduced :

More than 900

Possible carryingaircraft :

Mirage 2000D, Mirage 2000-5, F 16, Jaguar, MirageF1, upgraded Super Etendard, Rafale

Service France, Great Britain, South Africa, Egypt, Iraq,Germany, Peru, Switzerland, India.

PDL-CT (PDL-CT S)Thermal camera laser pod

Builder : Thomson-CSF Optronique

In-service in theFrench Air Force :

1993 (1999 for the PDL-CT S)

Length : 2.85 m

Weight : 340 kg

Related armament : AS-30 laser ; 1,000-kg BGL ; GBU

Major operationalcapabilities :

Detection, target identification, night and day laserguidance of weapons

Number of unitsproduced :

50 planned for 2000

Main user nations : Italy, Saudi Arabia

Possible carryingaircraft :

Mirage 2000D, Tornado

AS.34 KormoranThe Kormoran combines range, accuracy, and hard-hitting power in one smooth,aerodynamic package. Air launched against ships or land targets, the Kormoran employsinertial guidance for cruising. When it reaches its target at the end of its 23 mile range,active radar homing takes over. Kormoran's 352 lb. warhead is delay fused, to allow it topenetrate up to 90mm of steel plate before detonating

Kormoran 2 is the upgunned version of the successful Kormoran 1 guided missile. It hasbeen adapted to the German Navy plane Tornado and can be deployed as a standoffweapon against surface vessels. The system utilizes top-notch seeker technology fortarget selection and works on the fire-and-forget principle; the range exceeds 30kilometers.

SpecificationsLength 4.4 m.

Diameter 34.4 cm.

Span 100 cm.

Weight 600 kg.

Speed Mach 0.9

Range Up to 23 miles

Brimstone

BRIMSTONE utilises a mmW active radarseeker providing all-weather, 24 hour a dayoperation, whilst having virtuallyundetectable transmissions. The missilecarries a high-lethality, tandem shaped chargewarhead, capable of defeating all currentlyanticipated threats, including Main Battle

Tanks (MBT’s) fitted with the latest Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA).

The Royal Air Force needs a replacement for BL755, a weapon that was becomingincreasingly ineffective against modern armour. It was to be carried on Tornado GR4/4A,Harrier GR7/T10, and Eurofighter, and be capable of defeating the present and futurebattlefield threat. The store had to be totally autonomous after launch (fire and forget),and operate by night or day in all weather conditions.

The Staff Target for an Advanced Air-Launched Anti-Armour Weapon was originallyendorsed in 1981. An Invitation to Tender followed, leading to a Risk ReductionProgramme for two solutions. As a result of Options for Change and Treasuryintervention however, the program was cancelled in 1990, only to be reinstated in 1992,following a study into the entire UK anti-armour capability. The requirements werepresented to industry via a Cardinal Point Specification which, while demandingcompliance against certain essential features, gave scope for innovation, novel ideas, orpossibly off-the-shelf procurement.Five different compliant solutions were proposed by industry, comprising two un-powered glide dispensers, two missile-based weapons, and one a hybrid of bothtechnologies. Bid assessment took place between June 1995 and February 1996,following which the Equipment Approvals Committee recommended that GEC-MarconiRadar and Defence Systems Ltd (GMRDS) should be awarded a contract based on theirBrimstone weapon.Brimstone beat off competition from some of the best-known names in the internationaldefence market. Hunting Engineering and Texas Instruments proposed SWAARM andGriffin 38 respectively. These were both glide dispensers that flew un-powered towardsthe target before deploying a large number of small munitions overhead to defeatintended targets. The British Aerospace proposal was a weapon system named Typhoonand was based on the ASRAAM air to air missile. The final contender was the ThomsonThorn TAAWS weapon, based on BL755 but with a small rocket motor on each sub-munition to accelerate it away from the aircraft.

Brimstone is derived from the US Army Hellfire AGM-114F missile, with a weaponcomprising three missiles and a launcher. Powered by a rocket motor it can seek anddestroy targets many kilometres from launch point. A millimetric wave radar seekerdeveloped by GMRDS achieves ground acquisition and target recognition, while

steerable fins guide the missile towards the target, with final impact causing a tandemshaped charge warhead to detonate. The first, smaller warhead nullifies reactive armour,allowing the follow-through warhead to penetrate the main armour.

The contract value is £700 million with the total through-life cost of the weapon comingto just over £1 billion. The weapon enters service with the Royal Air Force in October2001. Contractual milestones appear periodically throughout development to mark majorachievements, such as design reviews and successful completion of trials.The prime contract and weapon Design Authority is Alenia Marconi Systems (formerlyGEC-Marconi) based in Stanmore and, while experienced in defence programmes, this istheir first time as a weapon prime contractor. Their major sub-contractor is Boeing NorthAmerican based in Duluth, Georgia who supply the missile bus and launcher electronicsassembly. Flight Refuelling Ltd is the Design Authority for the launcher structure withAir Log Ltd, producing the missile container. Development activities continue through toan in-service date of October 2001, and weapon deliveries run from early 2001 until mid2006.In October 1998, it was announced that Brimstone had been nominated as one of thedefence programs to become a pilot Integrated Project Team. Carrying a mandate toinvestigate gainsharing opportunities, the prime objectives being developed are toidentify and capture significant performance, time and cost benefits over the life of theproject. It was recognised fairly early in the process that due to the maturity of the design,increased performance would be difficult to achieve without additional risk. Efforts havetherefore been concentrated on cost reduction and optimisation of timescales. The keyissues currently being addressed in pursuit of the time/cost aims are restructuring in-service support, rationalisation of performance requirements, optimisation of capabilityfor ISD, and minimising the impact of closure of the Boeing plant in Duluth with transferof work to St Louis.

Storm ShadowSCALP EGConventionally Armed Stand Off Missile(CASOM)

The Matra BAe Dynamics (MBD) Storm Shadow missilesystem has been selected for the RAF to meet SR (A) 1236, theConventionally Armed Stand Off Missile (CASOM). Thecontract was awarded to MBD in February 1997 after aninternational competition with six other companies. The StormShadow missile system proposed by MBD is based on the flight-proven Apache air vehicle, and is optimised to meet UKrequirements. The Storm Shadow system will provide longrange firepower for the Royal Air Force's Tornado, EF 2000 and

Harrier GR7 aircraft, ensuring aircrews no longer to enter heavily defended enemyairspace in order to destroy high value targets.

The French SCALP EG (Emploi Général / General Purpose) is the same weapon asStorm Shadow apart from national aspects related to both countries. The two similar, butnot identical, Government technical requirements have been fully harmonised into asingle common technical solution. The design was selected by the French government inDecember 1994 (APTGD programme) after a competition between Matra Défense andAérospatiale. In January 1998 Matra BAe Dynamics (a subsidiary of the Lagardère andBritish Aerospace groups) received a major contract from the French Ministry of Defencefor the mass-production of 500 SCALP cruise missiles. The SCALP E.G. will giveMirage 2000, Rafale and Eurofighter aircraft unprecedented stand-off fire power.

The Storm Shadow is a stealth cruise missile of around 1,300 kg carrying a powerfulconventional warhead. Storm Shadow is an air-launched, conventionally-armed, long-range, stand-off, precision weapon, which is deployable at night or day, in most weatherand operational conditions. It will be able to destroy sensitive and highly protected targets(command bunkers, communications centers, etc.) with very great accuracy, with a rangeof over 250 kilometres after an entirely autonomous terrain-following flight at very lowaltitude. It is being developed to attack and destroy a wide spectrum of static, high valuetargets as listed below:

C3 (Command, Control and Communication) facilities airfield facilities port facilities ASM/ammo storage ships/submarines in port bridges.

Storm Shadow will be integrated onto Tornado GR4/4A, Harrier GR7/T10 andEurofighter. It will be capable of employment in all theatres of conflict, and the warheadis optimised for use against hardened targets.The Storm Shadow missile requirement embodies the following key features:

very long range fire and forget, with fully autonomous guidance low level terrain following stealth design effective penetrator warhead high reliability all up round [ensures high system readiness] low cost of ownership.

The Storm Shadow weapon system comprises:

The operational missile and its All Up Round Container (AURC) Mission Planning Infrastructure Data Programming System the Ground/Air Training missile (GATM) and its AURC.

The Storm Shadow missile is derived from the Apache Anti Runway missile. Keyelements of this proven technology have been retained for Storm Shadow, but thefollowing major modifications are being introduced to meet the particular Storm Shadowrequirements:

new guidance and navigation based on TERPROM [TERrain PROfile Matching]terrain navigation with an integrated GPS;

terminal guidance using imaging infra-red sensor and autonomous targetrecognition system;

the high lethality of the system is achieved by the use of a BROACH [BombRoyal Ordnance Augmented CHarge] unitary warhead.

The missile weighs approximately 1,300 kilograms and is just over five metres long. Itsmaximum diameter is under one metre, and with its wings deployed, under three metres.The first phase of the mission planning regime ensures that the missile navigates to thetarget with maximum survivability and then enters a robust target acquisition andterminal guidance phase. For complex and pre-determined missions, much of this datawould have been pre-prepared earlier at the Command Headquarters. Following an AirTasking Order, the Squadron would prepare the mission data file with the pre-planneddata, together with the latest operational intelligence.On approaching the terminal phase, the missile will initiate a bunt manoeuvre, pre-selected during mission planning, to obtain the best combination of acquisitionprobability and lethality against the target. As the missile climbs, it will jettison its nosecover, thereby enabling the missile high resolution imaging infra-red sensor to view thetarget area ahead.

The missile’s image processor will compare the actual image features with a reference setof features, determined during mission planning. When a feature match is achieved thetarget will be acquired and the required aim point selection tracked and used as thereference for the missile terminal guidance. As the missile closes in on the target theacquisition process will be repeated with a higher resolution data set to refine the aimpoint. Tracking will continue against this refined aim point until the precise targetlocation is identified.When engaging hard targets, such as Hardened Aircraft Shelters or bunkers, the missilewill strike the target at the estimated optimum dive angle, selected during missionplanning. On impact the detonation sequence commences. The precursor charge willperforate the target structure, and any soil covering, and the follow through penetratorwarhead will continue to penetrate inside the target to be detonated after a pre-selectablefuse delay.Should the mission be against a target with potential high collateral damage, the missionwill be aborted if the target identification and acquisition process is unsuccessful. In thiscase the missile will fly to a predetermined crash site.Major milestones in the future are:

air carriage clearance - July 1999 first guided firing - July 2000 design freeze - January 2001 In Service Date - Late 2001

The contract for the development and production of Storm Shadow was placed withMatra BAe Dynamics (UK) Ltd in February 1997 after a competitive tender exercise.This was one of the first contracts to be placed with this contractor. Matra BAe Dynamics(UK) Ltd is a subsidiary of Matra BAe Dynamics SAS, a company jointly owned by BAeplc and Lagardere SCA. Matra BAe Dynamics (France) Ltd has won the SCALP EGcontract from the French Government.The two parts of Matra BAe Dynamics act as separate Prime Contractors and hold theindividual Storm Shadow and SCALP EG contracts for their respective nationalGovernments. This has resulted in an industry collaborative programme that hasundertaken certain aspects of the work normally handled by both Governments, such asthe harmonisation of national requirements and the merging of national procurementmethods. These aspects are exclusively carried out by Matra BAe Dynamics by a fullyintegrated French and UK management and engineering team. This common solution isshared by the subcontractors’ base who only have a single subcontract which embracesthe joint requirements. This has resulted in a collaborative programme which is largelytransparent to both Governments, and attracts little of the procurement overhead oftenassociated with Government collaborative programmes. This approach has also had theadded benefit of driving down costs and enabled both Governments to obtain moreweapons for their money.

KEPD 150KEPD 350 MAW TaurusKEPD 150 is a member of the TAURUS family of advanced long range, high precisionstand-off weapon systems. It will provide the JAS 39 Gripen with an enhanced strikecapability against a broad target spectrum. The accuracy and stand-off capability ensurehighly effective weapons delivery while minimising the threat to aircraft and crew andlargely avoiding collateral damage. The KEPD 150 successfully performed its firstcaptive flight test on JAS 39 Gripen at the FMV Test Center in Linköping, Sweden, on 27August 1998. The test was part of the definition phase contracted by the SwedishDefence Material Administration (FMV). The KEPD 150 can be operational with theJAS 39 Gripen within five years. KEPD 150 has a high degree of commonality with theMAW TAURUS – KEPD 350 being in full scale development at TAURUS SystemsGmbH for the German Air Force TORNADO under contract from the German BWB.The Swedish defense contractor Bofors is working with DASA on the development of anew cruise missile - the MAW Taurus KEPD 350, which will be fitted on the Tornadoaircraft of the German Air Force. It can also be adapted for the Eurofighter. Delivery isscheduled for 2001. The project is managed by TAURUS Systems GmbH, a joint venturecompany owned by Dasa/LFK-Lenkflugkörper-systeme GmbH (67%) and Celsius AB,Bofors Missiles (33%). Whether the Taurus will be developed also for Sweden, whichcurrently does not have any cruise missiles, is yet to be decided. The Taurus KEPD 350 isthe first European Global Positioning System guided missile with large range (over 350kilometers) against surface and point targets. The MAW Taurus possesses a modularavionics system, an infrared seeker, a Penetrator (Mephisto), and a turbo-fan engine forspeeds greater than 0.8 Mach.

SpecificationsContractor Bofors + Chrysler-Daimler-Benz

Entered Service 2001

Total length

Diameter

Wingspan

Weight

Warhead Weight

Propulsion turbo-fan

Maximum Speed 0.8 Mach

Maximum effectiverange

over 350 kilometers

Guidance mode

Single-shot hitprobability

RBS15The Saab RBS15 family of long-range anti-ship missile systems is designed to meetfuture requirements in a variety of operational circumstances in open-sea engagements,anti-invasion defence and littoral warfare close to land or among islands. RBS15, whichis in service in Sweden and with a number of export customers, can be easily installed onnaval craft ranging in size from fast patrol boats upwards, on highly mobile and rapidlydeployable trucks, and on aircraft. In all three cases, the missiles have the sameintelligent, frequency-agile radar seeker, advanced navigation, guidance and altimetryelectronics, and powerful defence penetration and hit capabilities.RBS15 is a fire-and-forget anti-ship missile with all-weather, day and night operationalcapability. The new-generation RBS15 Mk3 offers extended range and increased tacticalflexibility compared with earlier versions. The system's features operational and tacticalversatility with a very flexible trajectory, including a flight range of more than 200 km alarge number of waypoints and altitudes extremely low sea-skimming with sea-stateadaptation. It provides sophisticated target discrimination and selection with highresistance to electronic countermeasures and easy engagement planning with extensivedecision support.

Sea SkuaThe Sea Skua anti-surface missile was launched 12 times during the Gulf War - andregistered 12 hits. Able to fire the Sea Skua, which was so successful during the Gulfwar, the Lynx forms an integral part of the ships detection and weapon system and canproject the influence of a ship over great distances with the key element of surprise. Inaddition to the Sea Skua the Lynx has the Sting Ray torpedo and the older technology butnevertheless most effective depth charge for anti-submarine warfare. The UK Ministry ofDefence has problems maintaining three types of naval missile made by BritishAerospace (BAe), the Sea Dart area air defence weapon, the Seawolf point defencemissile and the helicopter-launched Sea Skua light anti-ship missile. These missiles allhave problems with ageing components.

SpecificationsContractor British Aerospace

Year 1982

Type helicopter-launched anti-ship missile

Wingspan 0.72 m

Length 2.5 m

Diameter 0.25 m

Launch weight 145 kg

Max. speed 1050 km/h

Minimum range 2 km

Maximum range 25 km

Propulsion solid propellant rocket motor booster and sustainer

Guidance I-band semi-active radar guidance

Warhead delayed impact-fuzed high-explosive armored, 28 kg

Service Great Britain, Germany, India, Turkey.

EryxEryx is a Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon (Heavy) or SRAAW(H). It is a portablesystem including the firing post, the tripod, the Mirabel thermal imager and the missiletube. It provides the infantry section and the armoured reconnaissance assault troop withan improved capability in accuracy and penetration. Fired from the shoulder or using thetripod, Eryx can defeat all modern static or moving tanks. With its tandem high explosivewarhead, it is effective against bunkers, earth works, and armour targets even whenequipped with explosive reactive armour (ERA). Eryx can operate in all weatherconditions, in normal battlefield smoke and at night. Its high flexibility allows it tooperate in open ground, wooded zones or an enclosed space in built-up areas. It can betransported in most Canadian combat vehicles. A practice inert missile is also availablefor training.

Basic training is conducted by using the Eryx video interactive gunnery simulator(EVIGS). The Eryx precision gunnery simulator (EPGS) is another simulator used foradvanced training.

Crew

1 gunner and 1 loader

Characteristics

Calibremissile:main warhead:

137.4 mm136 mm

Warhead: Tandem shaped charges high explosive (HE)

Weightfiring post:tripod:thermal imager:missile tube: in tactical

container:

5 kg5 kg3.5 kg12.5 kg

Range: 50 m to 600 m

Time of flight to maximumrange:

4.3 seconds

Guidance: optically tracked, single wire semi-automatic commandto line of sight

Control: thrust vector controlled

Missile velocityat launch:at 600 m:

18 m/s245 m/s

Rate of fire: 5 missiles in two minutes

Operating conditions: -31°C to +51°C

Sights: optical and thermal imagery

Manufacturers

Eryx:Mirabel thermal imager:EVIGS:EPGS:

Aerospatiale, FranceTCO/Asaca, Montreal, CanadaSimtran, Montreal, CanadaLockheed Martin Solartron Systems, United Kingdom

HOTThe joint venture Euromissile was created in 1972 by Germany's Daimler-BenzAerospace (DASA) and France's Aerospatiale SA. Since the mid-1970s, and to this day,its Milan and Hot anti-tank weapons and the Roland surface-to-air system have beenhighly successful. The Hot anti-tank system was developed by Euromissile for the Frenchand German armies for use on land vehicles and helicopters. Hot was officially selectedin 1997 by France and Germany to be mounted on the new Franco-German Tigerhelicopter.

SpecificationsContractor Euromissile

Year 1978

Type anti-tank missile

Modifications HOT - basic missileHOT 2 - larger warhead, introduced in 1986

Wingspan 0.31 m

Length 1.3 m

Diameter (HOT) 0.14 m

Diameter (HOT 2) 0.15 m

Launch weight(HOT) 23.5 kg

Max. speed 900 km/h

Minimum range 0.075 km

Maximum range 4 km

Propulsion two stage solid propellant rocket motors

Guidance line of sight via wires

Warhead impact-fuzed high-explosive hollow charge, 3 kg (4kg in HOT 2)

ServiceFrance, Germany, Great Britain, Syria, Saudi Arabia,Belgium, Egypt, Qatar, Morocco, Iraq, Spain, China,Cameroon, South Africa, Gabon, Kuwait

MilanThe joint venture Euromissile was created in 1972 by Germany's Daimler-BenzAerospace (DASA) and France's Aerospatiale SA. Since the mid-1970s, and to this day,its Milan and Hot anti-tank weapons and the Roland surface-to-air system have beenhighly successful. Milan is a second generation anti-tank weapon, the result of a jointdevelopment between France and West Germany with British Milan launchers andmissiles built under licence in the UK. The Milan consists of two main components, thelauncher and the missile; these are simply clipped together to prepare the system for use.On firing, the operator has only to keep his aiming mark on the target and the SemiAutomatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) guidance system will do the rest. Themissile is guided for its entire trajectory by an automatic device of remote control usingthe infra-red radiation (MILAN 1) or an electronic-flash lamp (MILAN 2). Milan, whichwas initially developed for the French and German infantry, is now in service in 41countries all over the world. The new-generation weapon Milan 3 has been in servicesince 1996.

SpecificationsContractor

Entered Service

Max Range 2,000m;

Min Range 400m;

Length 918mm;

Weight 6.73kg;

Diameter 125mm;

Wing Span 267mm;

Rate of Fire 3-4rpm;

WarheadWeight 2.70kg;Diameter 115mm;Explosive Content 1.79kg;

Firing Post

Weight 16.4kg;

Length 900mm;

Height 650mm;

Width 420mm;

Armour Penetration 352mm;

Time of Flight to 12.5secs;

Max Range

Missile Speed 720kph;

Guidance Semi-Automatic command to line of sight by meansof wire guidance link.

Milas torpedo carrier missileGIE MILAS, a joint venture company formed by MATRA BAe Dynamics France andAlenia Difesa of Italy, originally designed, developed, and built the MILAS system tolaunch the MU 90 Franco-Italian torpedo. GIE MILAS is pursuing the adaptation of theMk 46 torpedo into the MILAS ASW Missile System in order to offer the MILAS systemas a stand-off ASW weapon systems capability to the 24 navies that carry the MK 46torpedo. Raytheon signed a $1.7 million engineering development contract in October1997 with GIE MILAS to support the integration of the Mk 46 torpedo into the MILASAntisubmarine Warfare (ASW) Missile System. In April 1998 France decided not toproduce or acquire this system, which was developed in a Franco-Italian cooperativearrangement.

Next Generation Light Anti-ArmourWeapon (NLAW)NLAW is a man-portable, shoulder-launched, short range, light anti-armour weaponeffective at short and very short ranges against modern armoured vehicles. Bofors Carl-Gustaf SAB of Sweden are offering the MBT LAW and Matra Bae Dynamics UK Ltd,based in Stevenage, are offering the Kestrel weapon system. The Project Definition phasewill last around 22 months, during which both companies will develop their proposals forthe Full Development and Production phase. The contracts will also include developmentwork and demonstration of the proposed solutions, together with other risk reductionactivities. Following an assessment of the resulting proposals, a single contract for FullDevelopment and Production is expected to be awarded in 2002. The NLAW project hasa total value in excess of Pounds Sterling 300m. It is expected to enter service around2006 and will replace the current light anti-armour weapon, LAW 80, which was lastproduced in 1993.

Pansarvarn RBS 56 BILLThe Bofors BILL 2 multi-mission guided weapon is a further development of the highlysuccessful BILL system. In BILL 2 Bofors has refined the Overfly Top-attack technology(OTA), already proven to be the only effective tank killing method for the future,enhanced the capability with a dual-warhead, and created new modes for different targettypes such as non-armoured vehicles and soft targets.In the Basic Mode the missile flies 1.05 meters above the Line-Of-Sight and attacks thetarget from above, avoiding the heavily protected frontal arc. And to increase combatflexibility the gunner has two more firing modes at his command. The warheadarrangement, with its vertically striking shaped charges, compensated for dynamiceffects, have demonstrated BILL 2’s very high Single Shot Kill Probability (SSKP). AnyMBT, old or new, whether equipped with the most advanced add-on/integrated protectionor not, will be effectively and immediately put out-of-action. The effective combat rangefor both static and moving targets is 150-2,200 meters and the flight time at maximumrange is 13 seconds. BILL 2 has a SACLOS guidance system and the missile is wire-guided. The guidance system contains a flight simulator with a computerised model in thesight, simulating the whole target engagement. A parallel engagement simulation in realtime is created via the continuous comparisons made between simulation and reality,using processed in-put signals from the missile tracker and the angle indicator. The laserbeacon in the aft of the missile transmits individually coded laser signals back to the sight(missile tracker), making the system immune to jamming. The missile systemincorporates both an interactive, dual-purpose sensor system and an impact fuze.The Warhead Initiation Function consists of: Optical sensor; Magnetic sensor; Impactfuze; and Proximity fuze algorithms. The optical sensor is, in effect, a range finder, whichmeasures the distance from the missile to the surface below, profiling it simultaneously.And as the transmitting signal is coded, the optical sensor is in-possible to jam. Themagnetic sensor measures the characteristic signatures from specifically defined metallicobjects and discriminates whether they are relevant or non-relevant. The inertial impactfuze is used for direct attack.The gunner can select any of the three firing modes before missile launch: Basic Mode;Non-Armoured Target Mode; and Soft Target Mode. In the basic mode all sensors areactivated and the missile flies with an elevated flight path with warhead initiationalgorithms optimised for the BILL 2 defined threat. In the non-armoured target modeall sensors are disconnected and the missile flies on the Line-Of-Sight using the ImpactFuze function. In the Soft Target Mode the Magnetic Sensor is disconnected and onlythe Optical Sensor activated and the missile flies with an elevated flight path with specialwarhead initiation algorithms.BILL Night Sight is an add-on thermal imaging night sight, primarily for use with theBILL portable medium-range anti-tank missile system, made by Bofors Missiles andintended for use in darkness and under poor visibility situations. The Bill Night Sight ismounted on top of a day-sight with the thermal picture mirrored into the front lens of theday-sight.

SpecificationsPerformance

Guidance system SACLOS, wire-guidance

Effective CombatRange (stationary andmoving target)

150 - 2.200 m

Operationaltemperature -30°C – +60°C

Shelf life >15 years

Weight

Day Sight 6.0 kg

Thermal ImagingSystem 8.5 kg

Tripod 11.8 kg

Missile in launch tube 20.0 kg

Missile in flight 10.5 kg

Magnification

Day sight x7

Thermal ImagingSystem x1

Time-of-flight

150 m 1.3 sec

300 m 2.1 sec

1,000 m 5.2 sec

1,500 m 7.9 sec

2,000 m 11.4 sec

2,200 m 13.0 sec

TrigatTrigat is a European missile program involving France, Germany and the UnitedKingdom. The missiles are being developed by the Euromissile Dynamics Group, aconsortium composed of Aerospatiale (France), MBD/UK (United Kingdom) andDaimler Benz Aerospace (Germany). The missile has a tandem, high explosive hollowcharge which can defeat modern Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) equipped targets. Itsgeneral arrangement is similar to Milan and is equipped with a Thermal Imaging sight toallow engagement to maximum range by day or night, in all weather conditions.TRIGAT is being developed in two variations, TRIGAT-MR for medium rangeapplications and TRIGAT-LR for long range applications. The missile is also known asPARS-3, Panzerabwehr Rakensystem 3 (Armour defence rocket system 3 in the Germanlanguage), and AC 3G, AntiChar de 3e Generation (Anti-tank of the Third Generation inFrench).

The development of the Trigat (medium-range) continues, but France has withdrawnfrom the Trigat LR (long-range) project. Long Range Trigat is a ten year developmentproject. This means that the original contract money ensures only that the missile will bedeveloped (to the stage of manufacturing design), not that it will necessarily go intoproduction.

MR TRIGAT is a crew portable MR ATGW system which will replace MILAN in thearmed forces of the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. France andGermany have already signed the MOU for the next phase. The British Army will get theMedium Range (MR) TRIGAT project to provide its principal Medium Range Anti-TankGuided Weapon System (ATGWS), in collaboration with France, Germany, theNetherlands and Belgium. The UK is also considering procurement of a lighter systemfor deployment with airborne and commando units. Once the contract has been let, theprogramme will transfer to management by OCCAR, the armaments co-operationorganisation formed in 1996 by the UK, France, Germany and Italy. MR TRIGATindustrialisation and production has a total value to the partner nations of about PoundsSterling 1bn. The British Army will buy 45% of all the systems produced, with thesigning expected to spur action by Belgium and the Netherlands, according tomanufacturers Matra BAe Dynamics, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace/LFK, and AerospatialeMatra Missiles. The companies will make 1,600 firing units, 1,200 thermal sights, andmore than 35,000 medium-range Trigats, with a global value of more than 8 billionFrench francs, about $1.33 billion U.S. at current rates of exchange, over a 10-yearperiod.

SpecificationsContractor

Entered Service

Total length

Diameter

Wingspan

WeightMissile Launch Weight 18.2 kgs;Firing Post Weight 16.5 kgs;Thermal Sight Weight 10.5 kgs;

Warhead Weight

Propulsion

Maximum Speed

Maximum effectiverange 2000 meters

Guidance mode Laser Beam Riding SACLOS

Single-shot hitprobability

PolyphemThe Polyphem missile system is under development for Germany, France and Italy by theEuromissile consortium consisting, respectively, of DASA, Aerospatiale Missiles andConsorzio Italmissile. The optic fibre-guided Polyphem missile is intended for two kindsof mission: isolated strikes from light land vehicles against long-range targets or fromsmall ships or helicopters against land-based targets. The Polpyhem optics guided missilesystem provides combat support and permits highly precise artillery operations againstpoint targets over long distances. The system can also be deployed from ships. The rangeamounts to 60 kilometers. Polyphem features an imaging infrared seeker as well as amultipurpose warhead.