Crotale (Rattlesnake) / Shahine
The Crotale is a mobile, all-weather, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system. According to information from the Military Balance 2021, France had a total of 13 LRU rocket launchers while the French Air Force had 24 Crotale used to conduct short-range air defense. The Crotale EDIR (Ecartométrie Différentielle InfraRouge, "InfraRed Differential Ecartometry") is an all-weather short-range anti-air missile, which can be used to intercept low-flight anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It is designed to combat targets flying at a speed of M1.2 at an altitude of 50 to 3,000 m and an equivalent radar area of 1 m{2}. Crotale, developed by Thomson CSF Matra, has a boost/glide trajectory and can be launched from mobile launcher. Fired against targets such as aircraft and missiles, the maximum range of the missile is 8km up to 5000m altitude at the a speed of Mach 2.3. This is an all-weather, low altitude mobile air defense missile weapon system designed to counter air saturation attacks. It is equipped with digital radio command missile line of sight to target line of sight. Crotale has a single stage solid propelled rocket motor [designated R.440], and a 15 kg high explosive focused fragmentation warhead.
A typical platoon consists of one Acquisition and Co-ordination Unit (ACU) and two to three firing units, with a battery having two platoons. The system cannot operate on the move, but takes less than 5 minutes to become operational once it has stopped. The missile can be launched within about 6.5 seconds after the target is detected. South Africa initiated 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 Force took 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 number of improvements over the standard Crotale. The Saudis also ordered the standard Crotale in late 1978 and an upgraded version in 1990 for their air force.
In November 1988, at the second ASIANDEX exhibition in Beijing, the China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC) revealed the FM-80 land-mobile shelter-mounted surface-to-air missile system on two-axle trailers. The FM-80 is very similar in concept to the Crotale shelter-mounted version and its naval equivalent.
Although the Crotale-NG SAM is a new system, it is based on a number of improved components of the previously developed complex. For example, the PU is based on Thomson-CSF's experience in developing a large family of Crotale SAMs. Electrically rotating turret complex Crotale -NG weighing about 4800 kg includes a surveillance radar with built-in state identification request, radar escort, optical equipment consisting of infrared, working day and night, camera, infrared rangefinder, daytime TV camera and eight combat-ready missiles, placed two packages of four missiles each. The complex can be placed on one tracked or wheeled platform. Possible carriers of the complex are the chassis of the tank AMX-30V, APC M113, KIFV and Puma, as well as Bradley IFV.
The TRS2630 E-band radar with frequency converter rotates at 40 rpm. It is equipped with a flat antenna and has improved noise immunity (low side lobes, beam strobing, wide frequency switching and constant false alarms) and is able to operate when the chassis is moving. The detection range of the aircraft is 20,000 m and about 8,000 m for dependent helicopters. The maximum detection altitude is 5000 m. The radar can search in a precisely confined sector, and can simultaneously escort the eight most dangerous targets.
The TRS 3207 Crotale is a surveillance and target acquisition radar and a missile guidance radar used in conjunction with the Crotale air defense system. There it is used for target acquisition and automatic target tracking, as well as missile guidance. The TRS 3207 is used for air defense against low- and very low-altitude targets in the (V)SHORAD range and is used to protect own forces at close range. The missile guidance radar operates in the X-Band and is a frequency-agile monopulse Doppler radar that has low susceptibility to jamming and deception. The maximum detection range is 18 km. Countering helicopters is effective up to a range of 12 km.
Up to two missiles can be guided simultaneously. A goniometer detects the missile during the launch phase. Thereafter, the missile is guided by the radar on the line of sight and its deviation from the target is continuously calculated, with the deviation in elevation and azimuth between the centerline of the antenna (boresight), the target and the missile.
On Crotale versions up to and including the Crotale 5000, the TRS 3207 is mounted on the launcher, called the firing unit (FU), which contains the radar as well as four guided missiles. The Mirador reconnaissance and target assignment radar is located apart from the FU on a separate vehicle called the Acquisition Unit (AU). It operates in S-Band. In the newer version of the Crotale family, the Crotale NG (New Generation), both the search and target tracking radars are mounted on one vehicle along with the missiles.
The VT1 missile is a land and sea based missile designed specially for short-range surface to air defence systems. The VT1 equips both the land-based and naval versions of the Crotale Short Range Air Defence System. The VT1 missile has been created to counter next generation threats including tactical missiles, pop-up helicopters, UAVs and aircraft deploying high-manoeuvring, low-level stand-off weapons.
The hyper velocity and high manoeuvrability of the VT1 offer class-leading performance which when combined with the Crotale Mk3 forms a system with a 12km no escape zone against high manoeuvring targets. The VT1 missile is a land and sea based missile designed especially for short-range surface to air defence systems. The VT1 equips both the land-based and naval versions of the Crotale Mk3 Short Range Air Defence System. The VT1 missile has been created to counter all threats including tactical missiles, pop-up helicopters, UAVs and aircrafts deploying high-maneuvering, low-level stand-off weapons. When combined with the Crotale Mk3, the hyper velocity and high maneuverability of the VT1 offer a class-leading performance and allows a system with a 15km no escape zone against high maneuvering targets.
The Crotale is operational in several air and naval forces including Finland, France, Greece and Oman. The VT1 has been designed with the Crotale to provide outstanding performance in both naval and land applications. In naval applications the VT1 is designed to eliminate sea skimming and diving missiles with very high speed and manoeuvrability. In land applications the VT1 is effective against fixed and rotary wing aircraft, cruise and tactical missiles, saturating attacks from stand-off weapons and jammers.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
