Kentron V1

The V1 developed by the South African company Kentron (today: Denel ) and the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) was an air-to-air missile that did not get beyond the construction of some components for a prototype.

The development of the V1 began around 1968. The AIM-9B Sidewinder was used as the basis for the V1 . The aim was to improve the AIM-9B, so there were modifications to the detonator and this was to be produced locally (in South Africa). The reason for this can be the apartheid policy of that time , which kept South Africa more and more isolated, particularly economically. But the project was quickly abandoned. From today's perspective, one can only speculate about the reasons. Then the development of the Kentron V2 began. This is strikingly similar to the V1.

Web links

• Kentron V1 on saairforce.co.za (English)