AS.15TT

The AS.15TT is an anti-ship missile made ​​in France. The system is used primarily for the control of small surface vessels in coastal waters.

Development

The AS.15TT was developed as a successor to the successful launch of AS.12. The development of Aérospatiale began in 1976. The first test shot was done in 1981. The first missiles were delivered in 1985. By the end of production in 1992 306 AS.15TT were produced.

Variants

  • AS.15TT: version for use from the air.
  • MM.15TT: version for use from small warships. Development set.
  • SM.15TT: Version for coastal defense. Development set.

Technology

The use of AS.15TT is primarily from helicopters. For this purpose the helicopters uses the illumination target 15, the radar Agrion Thomson CSF. This has a maximum detection range of 150 km, and operates in the I / J- band. The AS.15TT relies on no specific helicopter model. The insert may e.g. with the AS- 365F Dauphin 2 or carried out the NH -90 helicopter.

The steering of the AS.15TT is based on the principle of semi - active radar target search. Here, the missile has only one signal receiver which itself does not emit radar signals, but these may only be received. This makes a so-called " lighting " of the target by the on-board radar of the helicopter / aircraft carrier needed. This assumes that the airborne radar continuously sends out radar signals in the direction of the target. The seeker head of AS.15TT uses the reflected radar energy in order to find the target. The advantages of this system lie in the cost of production and the easy -to-integrate technology. However, a disadvantage is the high susceptibility, the easy localization of the radar and the need for continuous target illumination.

After dropping from the helicopter first, a brief non-driven phase. It was only at a safe distance from the helicopter firing the two rocket booster. These accelerate the missile to a speed of 280 m / s After burning the booster ignites the solid - cruise engine and the missile falls at a steep angle to the cruising altitude of 15 m down. For the target approach the missile drops to an altitude of 3-5 m ( Sea Skimming ). The impact in the target is at wave height in the hull. Optimally, the missile strikes by the side of the ship and the warhead detonates inside the ship.

Dissemination

  • Bahrain Bahrain
  • Iraq Iraq
  • Israel Israel
  • Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates

Use

The first use of AS.15TT in 1991 during the Second Gulf War. Saudi Arab helicopters destroyed 15 Iraqi AS.15TT five small ships.

Booster (rocketry) SS.12/AS.12
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