Kentron V4 R-Darter
| Kentron V4 R-Darter | |
|---|---|
| General Information | |
| Type | Air-to-air missile |
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Manufacturer | Armscor, Kentron (today: Denel Dynamics ) |
| Commissioning | 1995 |
| Working time | 1995-2008 |
| Unit price | approximately $ 1,000,000 |
| Technical specifications | |
| length | 3620 mm |
| diameter | 160 mm |
| Combat weight | 118 kg |
| drive | Solid rocket motor |
| Range | 60 km |
| Furnishing | |
| Target location | Active radar |
| Detonator | Proximity fuse |
| Weapon platforms | Atlas Cheetah C / D |
| Lists on the subject | |
The V4 R-Darter is a medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile . It has been manufactured by the South African group Kentron (today: Denel Dynamics ) for the South African Air Force (SAAF) since 1994 .
History and technology
Development of the V4 began in the mid-1980s with the aim of having a radar-guided air-to-air missile with a long range for the SAAF. Since South Africa was under a UN arms embargo at the time, it had no way of obtaining similar weapons from abroad. The V4 was designed to be immune to all electronic countermeasures known at the time . Furthermore, it should be combined with a modern aircraft radar so that the pilot could attack several air targets at the same time. With the R-Darter it became possible to capture a target before the rocket was fired ( lock on before launch ), but the target could also only be grasped and guided to the target after the rocket had been launched ( lock on after launch ). As with the Kentron V3, target acquisition was possible via the helmet display . During its development, later update options were taken into account in the design of the rocket.
The R-Darter went into production in 1994. It was put into service by the SAAF as early as 1995 and used on the Atlas Cheetah C / D. It was only officially presented to the public in 2000 at the African Aerospace and Defense Show .
Since then there have been rumors that the R-Darter is similar, if not a derivative, of the Israeli derby . South African sources deny this. There is also no evidence that Kentron worked with the Israelis on a radar-guided air-to-air missile project. Much data about R-Darter is still classified as secret.
In 2005, it was announced that Força Aérea Brasileira had purchased ten R-Darters for the F-5BR test program for a unit price between $ 100,000 and $ 200,000 . The decision was made in 2006, however, in favor of the Derby built by Rafael . Further possible exports to Pakistan and even Romania soon turned out to be false news. Ever since Ecuador acquired twelve Cheetahs for US $ 54 million in early 2011, rumors have persisted that Ecuador would be interested in acquiring the R-Darter.
The R-Darter was originally intended for the Saab 39 Gripen , but was not implemented. In 2003 it was decided to decommission the V4 together with the Cheetah in 2008. There is much speculation about a possible successor; According to a company spokesman, this is being developed under the name B- or T-Darter.
References
Web links
- R-Darter on saairforce.co.za (eng)
- R-Darter on janes.com (eng)
- R-Darter at gripen.site90.com (spa)
- R-Darter on sistemadearmas.sites.uol.com.br (por)
Individual evidence
- ^ Report in Flight International from September 12, 2000.
- ↑ Report on itweb.co.za of 14 April 2008