Umkhonto missile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Umkhonto missile | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Basic data | |
| Function | short range surface-to-air missile |
| Manufacturer | Denel Aerospace Systems |
| Entered service | Test phase (as of 2005) |
| General characteristics | |
| Engine | |
| Launch mass | 130 kg |
| Length | 3.32 m |
| Diameter | 180 mm |
| Wingspan | 500 mm |
| Speed | 800 m/s, roughly Mach 2.5 |
| Range | 12 km |
| Flying altitude | 10 km |
| Warhead | 23 kg |
| Guidance | all-aspect infra-red, command update fire and forget |
| Launch platform | 8-cell (naval version) or 4-cell truck mounted land version |
- This article is about the missile system. For other uses, see Umkhonto (disambiguation)
Umkhonto (Zulu: spear) is an South African VLS surface-to-air missile manufactured by Denel Aerospace Systems (formerly known as Kentron) that come in an infrared homing and radar homing version.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Designed for all-round defence against simultaneous air attacks from multiple targets, the Umkhonto-IR missile is the first vertically launched infrared-homing surface-to-air missile, also the first IR-homing missile to use lock-on-after-launch. Upon launch, the missile flies to a lock-on point, following on-board inertial navigation. The missile then activates its two-colour IR-seeker (variant of U-Darter AAM's seeker) and locks on. Target updates are received via data link, enabling the missile to counter evading manoeuvres by the target(s). Umkhonto has a set of tail-mounted, aerodynamic control fins, as well as thrust vectoring vanes in the motor nozzle (similar to Denel's A-Darter AAM), allowing for 40 G manoeuvres. The system's 3-D fire control radar enable simultaneous engagement of eight targets for the naval version. The missile uses a low-smoke propellant to avoid detection. In July 2005 it was successfully tested in various scenarios against Denel-made Skua drones.
An extended range version (Umkhonto-NG) is rumoured to be in development. It will feature a rocket booster and a RF seeker head.
[edit] Umkhonto-R
The radar-homing version differs in that it has an extended range (25 km, Umkhonto-IR 12 km) and higher operational altitude (12 km, Umkhonto-IR 10 km), it is also 65 kg heavier and 98 cm longer than the Umkhonto-IR version.
[edit] Users
[edit] Finland
Umkhonto-IR was ordered by the Finnish Navy to arm its four Hamina class missile boats in 2002 and its two Hämeenmaa class minelayers by 2006.
[edit] South Africa
The South African Navy has selected the system for its four Meko A-200 frigates. The South African Army has the Umkhonto in land based service, where one missile battery is composed of four launch units, one 3-D radar unit and one command unit.
[edit] Others
In 2004 Brazil expressed an interest in acquiring the missile system for its aircraft carrier São Paolo.
[edit] See also
- Denel Aerospace Systems, the manufacturer
- Hamina class missile boat, Finnish Navy vessel armed with Umkhonto.
