Crotale (missile)
Crotale is a mobile, all-weather air defense missile system from French production. It is used to combat low-flying aircraft and helicopters.
Development
The development at Matra BAE Dynamics and Thomson -CSF Airsys (now Thales ) began in 1966. The first systems were introduced in 1971 delivered. Originally Crotale system of France was developed for South Africa, where it bears the name Cactus. The performance of the system convinced, however, so that France purchased the system for both the army and the navy. In the following years, the system has been modernized and adapted to the current threat situation.
Technology
The air defense missile system basically consists of two components. The starter vehicle has four missiles starter; between the carriages the fire control radar is mounted. The second vehicle carrying the search radar. By a simple cable, the monitoring vehicle can be connected to multiple vehicles starter. As of version R.480 a new compact turret is employed. This is equipped with the sensors units, a surveillance radar, and 2 × 4 starting container for the missile.
When the French army, the system was first developed on a 4 × 4 wheeled vehicle of the arms manufacturer Hotchkiss with four launch containers. In order to ensure a higher mobility, it was decided to install the system on the chassis of the French AMX -30 main battle tank and the number of starting container was increased to six.
In the navy missile system will be used on various combat ships. For example, the frigates La Fayette class at the stern above the helicopter flight deck have a Crotale octuple launcher.
The missile is powered by a solid rocket motor. After launching the missile reached within 2.3 seconds its top speed of Mach 2.3. Modern VT-1 missile has a top speed of Mach 3.5. The missiles are guided by a Radarleitsstrahles to the destination. If the destination in the Ansprechradius of the proximity fuse, the fragmentation warhead is ignited. This has an effective radius of action of from eight to ten meters ( depending on the target size). With a direct hit the warhead is triggered by the impact fuze.
Variants
- R.440 Crotale: First production version, introduced in 1971.
- R.460 Shahine: Version installed on the chassis of the AMX - 30th
- R.460 Cactus: Version of the Shahine for use in desert regions.
- R.480 Crotale NG: Version with high-speed missile. Introduced in 1990. Reach 11 km
- R.480NR Crotale NG: Completely modernized version with a new VT-1 high-speed missile.
- Crotale Mk.3: Improved Crotale NG with new electronics and new Shikra - 3D radar system. Can fight cruise missiles and precision bombs. Introduced in 2008.
- Crotale CN1: Navy version for use on ships.
- Crotale CN2: Improved version with completely new radar and electronics.
- Crotale CN3: variant of Crotale CN2 with new VT-1 high-speed missile.
Dissemination
- Egypt Egypt 12 systems with 60 missiles.
- Bangladesh Bangladesh: Ulsan class and 053H -Class (Ch Jianghu III class ), FM - 90N.
- Bahrain Bahrain: 1 system with 30 missiles.
- Chile Chile: 2 systems with 375 missiles.
- People's Republic of China People's Republic of China: License production and reverse engineering of several hundred systems under the local name HQ- 7, FM -80 and FM -90.
- France France: Crotale NG ( twelve systems) and Crotale, including La Fayette - class.
- Greece Greece: Crotale NG, 11 systems.
- Iran Iran: Systems in China acquired.
- Libya Libya: 12 systems with 216 missiles.
- Morocco Morocco: Cactus.
- Oman Oman: Crotale NG, two systems with 50 missiles.
- Pakistan Pakistan 12 systems with 300 missiles.
- Philippines Philippines: systems no longer in use.
- Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia: Shahine and Crotale NG, 22 systems with 725 missiles.
- South Africa South Africa: Cactus, 7 systems with 200 missiles.
- Flag of South Korea South Korea: Crotale NG, local term Chun- ma. 114 systems.
- United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates: 3 systems with 210 missiles.
Use
Crotale came with the French intervention in Chad and during the Second Gulf War for use.