SNEB

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Missile tube launch container Matra F4 (Matra 155) for SNEB-68 missiles

The SNEB missiles are unguided air-to-surface missiles from the French manufacturer Thomson-Brandt . They are carried in rocket pipe launch containers and used by combat aircraft , attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. SNEB missiles are among the most widely used air-to-surface missiles in the world. SNEB stands for S ociete N ouvelle des E tablissements Edgar B randt.

development

The SNEB missiles were developed by Edgar Brandt at Thomson-Brandt in the early 1950s . From 1955, the rockets were delivered to the French air force and various export customers. After Thomson-Brandt was renamed Thomson-Brandt Armements (TBA) in 1968 , the company belonged to EADS from 2005 . Today the SNEB missiles are produced by TDA Armements, which belongs to the Thales Group . In addition, SNEB missiles are produced under license in various countries .

description

SNEB missiles exist in 37 mm, 68 mm and 100 mm calibers . The rockets are transported in rocket tube launch containers and launched from them. The rockets consist of a steel tube in which the solid rocket engine is housed. Eight fold-out stabilization surfaces are attached to this at the rear . These unfold by means of spring force after the rocket has left the tube launch container. Various warheads can be screwed onto the steel tube with the rocket engine. The rockets are ignited electrically and can be fired individually or in volleys . The SNEB missiles can be used to combat air targets as well as a wide range of ground targets.

SNEB 37

The SNEB 37 in 37 mm caliber is the smallest rocket in the SNEB family. It was primarily designed for use from helicopters and light aircraft, but could also be used by fast combat aircraft. From the 1960s at the latest, this type of missile played only a subordinate role, and from the 1970s it is no longer in use.

Missiles

There is only one type of missile of the SNEB 37. This is 0.525 m long and weighs 1.02 kg. The maximum operating distance is around 1 km. In flight , the rocket rotates around its longitudinal axis at around 30 revolutions per minute . A fragmentation warhead with an impact fuse is used as the warhead .

Starting container

There are two rocket tube launch containers for SNEB 37, which can be transported by helicopters, light aircraft and combat aircraft.

Matra RL 181
Cylindrical container. Loaded weight 40 kg, length 1.50 m; for 18 SNEB-37 missiles.
Matra RL 361
Cylindrical container. Loaded weight 49.5 kg, length 0.84 m; for 36 SNEB-37 missiles.

SNEB 68

The SNEB 68 in caliber 68 mm is the main representative of the SNEB family. It is one of the most widely used air-to-surface missiles worldwide and production numbers run into the millions.

Missiles

The first SNEB-68 missiles emerged in the 1950s. The rockets use two different rocket motors: the Type 25 F1B for use in fast-flying aircraft and the Type 25 H1 for use in light aircraft and helicopters. The missiles use two-base rocket fuel. The missiles (without warhead) are 62 cm long, weigh 3.3 kg and have a wingspan of 240 mm. In flight, the rocket rotates around its longitudinal axis at 20 to 30 revolutions per second. At a burn-out speed of 450 to 800 m / s, the operating distance is 3 to 4 km. Depending on the nature of the target, different warheads can be screwed onto the missiles . In 1984 the SNEB Multidart 68 missiles were introduced. These rockets also use two different rocket motors: the F2 and F3 types . These use composite rocket fuel . The missiles (without warhead) are 85 cm long, weigh 5.1 kg and have a wingspan of 240 mm. With a burnout speed of 760 to 780 m / s, the operating distance is 4 to 5 km. The missiles are primarily equipped with warheads with flechettes to combat soft targets , material and lightly armored vehicles. After a predetermined flight time, the warhead opens with an electrical impulse and releases the arrow-shaped flechettes. These are distributed over a large target area according to the watering can principle . A helicopter can with a full burst of 44 SNEB-Multidart-68 rocket an elliptical target area of 70 m in width and 1000 m length coat . After a flight time of around 4.5 seconds, 1936 Flechettes hit this area. Depending on the starting speed and the shooting distance, the Flechettes have a speed of 400 to 500 m / s when they hit the target. TDA Armaments has been selling the ACULEUS 68 missiles since the 2000s . These use the F3 rocket engine with composite rocket fuel. The maximum operating distance of these missiles is 5 km. A new family of tubular rocket launch containers has also been introduced for this new type of missile. Depending on the nature of the target, different warheads can also be mounted on these missiles.

The following missiles with the following warheads have been produced since the 1950s:

SNEB 68-230
Length 0.91 m, weight 4.5 kg, speed 450 m / s, warhead: 1.7 kg shaped charge with a penetration capacity of around 300 mm armor steel .
SNEB 68-250
Length 0.91 m, weight 5.1 kg, speed 600 m / s, warhead: 1.8 kg smoke / fire .
SNEB 68-251P
Length 0.85 m, weight 4.3 kg, speed 800 m / s, warhead: 1.1 kg fragmentation warhead. To combat air targets.
SNEB 68-252
Length 0.92 m, weight 5.1 kg, warhead: 0.8 kg training warhead.
SNEB 68-253
Length 0.92 m, weight 5.1 kg, speed 600 m / s, warhead: 1.8 kg shaped charge with fragmentation jacket. Penetration power around 400 mm of armor steel. Additionally creates around 100 splinters of 1 gram each  .
SNEB 68-256P
Length 0.92 m, weight 6.3 kg, speed 450 m / s, warhead: 3.0 kg fragmentation warhead, which generates around 440 fragments of 1 gram each.
SNEB 68-258 / 28SM
Missile with 5 Ogre shaped charge bomblets . An Ogre bomblet weighs 552 g, has a fragmentation circle of around 11 m and can penetrate 80 mm of armor steel.
SNEB 68-259E
Missile for battlefield lighting . Warhead with parachute . Generates 1 mega candela for 55 seconds  .
SNEB 68-259L
Electronic Radar Deception Countermeasures Missile . Warhead with chaff (Engl. Chaff).
Type 290 ABL (Multidart)
Length 1.38 m, weight 8.2 kg, warhead: 8 flechettes with a diameter of 13.5 mm, each 190 g. At a speed of 500 m / s, they have a penetration rate of 10 mm armor steel.
Type 291 AMV (Multidart)
Length 1.38 m, weight 8.3 kg, warhead: 22 flechettes with a diameter of 9 mm, each 35 g. At a speed of 500 m / s these have a penetration capacity of 8 mm armor steel.
Type 290 ECL (Multidart)
Missile for battlefield lighting. Warhead with parachute. Generates 1 mega candela for 60 seconds.
Type 290 MX-FUM (Multidart)
Missile for training purposes and for target marking. Length 1.38 m, weight 8.2 kg, warhead with smoke / fire effect.
ACULEUS 68P
Rocket for training purposes. Weight 7.5 kg.
ACULEUS 68P / M
Missile for target marking. Weight 8.8 kg. Warhead with smoke / fire effect.
ACULEUS 68 MD-36
Missile with a warhead with 36 flechettes for combating material and lightly armored vehicles. Rocket weight 7.5 kg.
ACULEUS 68 MD-432
Missile with a warhead with 432 Flechettes to combat soft targets and material. Rocket weight 7.5 kg.
ACULEUS 68 HE-IMP
Missile with fragmentation warhead and percussion fuse. Rocket weight 7.5 kg.
ACULEUS 68 U-MM
Missile with fragmentation warhead and multi-purpose detonator ( proximity detonator , impact or delay). Rocket weight 8.8 kg.
ACULEUS 68 LG
ACULEUS 68 LG was developed under the name SYROCOT (Systems de Roquette A Corrections de Trajectoire) by TDA Armements, Thales Group, BAE Systems and MBDA . This rocket is an ACULEUS-68-HE-MM-rocket, at the tip of which a semi-active laser aiming head with four control surfaces is attached. The rocket weighs around 9 kg. The maximum operating distance is around 5 km and the scatter circle radius ( CEP ) should be less than 1 m according to the manufacturer. ACULEUS 68 LG is compatible with the existing SNEB systems. Another version of the ACULEUS 68 LG is the ILGR (Induction Laser Guided Rocket). This rocket has a caliber of 70 mm (2.75 ") and is compatible with the Hydra 70 system . ACULEUS 68 LG has been operational and in use since 2015.

Starting container

Two Matra F4 (Matra 155) tubular launchers for 18 SNEB-68 missiles

A wide selection of launch containers for combat aircraft, attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles is available for the SNEB-68 missiles. These containers are produced by both Thomson-Brandt Armements (TBA) and Matra (today MBDA). For assembly, all starting containers have the NATO standard bomb lock of 356 mm (14 "). Early starting containers had to be programmed on the ground to determine whether the rockets should be launched individually or in a volley. With later models, this selection can be made by the pilot during flight. The launch containers are reusable. After the launch of the rockets, the launch container remains on the aircraft and can be reloaded after landing. The launch container can also be thrown in flight after use. Depending on the launch container, the rockets can be fired individually or in volleys. With volley launches, the interval between launches is 30–400 milliseconds. The following rocket tube launch containers exist:

Matra 116M
Cylindrical container with an aerodynamic tip for light aircraft, helicopters and combat aircraft. Loaded weight 134 kg. For 19 SNEB-68 missiles.
Matra 122
Cylindrical container for light aircraft and helicopters. Weight empty 18.5 kg. For 6 SNEB-68 missiles.
Matra F1
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for light aircraft and combat aircraft. Loaded weight 270 kg, length 2.20 m. For 36 SNEB-68 missiles.
Matra F2
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for light aircraft and combat aircraft. Loaded weight 58 kg, length 2.20 m. For 6 SNEB-68 missiles.
Matra F4 (Matra 155)
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for combat aircraft. Loaded weight 164 kg, length 2.40 m. For 18 SNEB-68 missiles.
Matra JL-100
Combination of a cylindrical container for 18 SNEB-68 missiles at the top of an additional drop tank with 250 liters of kerosene .
TBA 68-7
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for light aircraft. Loaded weight 73 kg, length 1.27 m. For 7 SNEB-68 missiles.
TBA 68-12C
Box-shaped container for helicopters. Loaded weight 100 kg, length 1.20 m. For 12 SNEB-68 missiles.
TBA 68-12L
Box-shaped container for helicopters. Loaded weight 130 kg, length 1.40 m. For 12 SNEB Multidart 68 missiles.
TBA 68-18M
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for combat aircraft. Loaded weight 187 kg, length 1.35 m. For 18 SNEB-68 missiles.
TBA 68-22C
Box-shaped container for helicopters. Loaded weight 180 kg, length 1.20 m. For 22 SNEB-68 missiles.
TBA 68-22L
Box-shaped container for helicopters. Loaded weight 235 kg, length 1.40 m. For 22 SNEB Multidart 68 missiles.
TBA 68-36
Box-shaped container for helicopters. For 36 SNEB Multidart 68 missiles.
TBA Telson 2
Box-shaped container for helicopters, light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Loaded weight 27 kg. For 2 ACULEUS-68 missiles.
TBA Telson 8
Box-shaped container for helicopters and light aircraft. Loaded weight 101 kg. For 8 ACULEUS-68 missiles.
TBA Telson 12
Box-shaped container for helicopters. Loaded weight 149 kg. For 12 ACULEUS-68 missiles.
TBA Telson 12JF
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for combat aircraft. Loaded weight 191 kg. For 12 ACULEUS-68 missiles.
TBA Telson 22
Box-shaped container for helicopters. Loaded weight 259 kg. For 22 ACULEUS-68 missiles.

Upgrade kits for aircraft

Various conversion kits have been developed by Matra for installation in aircraft fuselages . Such a set-up consisted of a box magazine and a launching device that protruded from the bottom of the aircraft fuselage. The rockets were ignited electrically and could be launched individually or volleys. After the mission, the magazine in the fuselage could be reloaded with new missiles on the ground. This process took around 10 minutes. The following kits have been developed.

Matra type 101
For installation in the Dassault Mystère IV . Magazine with 55 SNEB-68 missiles
Matra type 104
For installation in the SNCASO SO-4050 Vautour . Magazine with 122 SNEB-68 missiles
Matra type 105
For installation in the Dassault Super Mystère . Magazine with 35 SNEB-68 missiles
Matra type 106
For installation in the Dassault Étendard IV . Magazine with 35 SNEB-68 missiles
Matra type 107
Developed for the Bréguet 1100 that was not ready for series production . Magazine with 40 SNEB-68 missiles
Matra type 1000
Developed for the FFA P-16 that was not ready for series production . Magazine with 44 SNEB-68 missiles

SNEB 100

At the beginning of the 1960s, Thomson-Brandt took over the armaments division of Hotchkiss et Cie . With this takeover, the 100 mm rockets developed by Hotchkiss came to Thomson-Brandt. There these were further developed into the SNEB 100. The SNEB 100 in 100 mm caliber are the largest rockets in the SNEB family. They were designed for use from helicopters and fighter planes. The SNEB-100 missiles were operational from 1968.

Missiles

The first generation of SNEB-100 missiles use a rocket motor powered by dibasic rocket fuel. This has a burn time of 1.1 seconds and accelerates the rocket to 275 to 280 m / s. The maximum operating distance is 2 to 3 km. Depending on the nature of the target, different warheads can be mounted on the missiles. The SNEB Multidart 100 version has been in production since 1984 . These missiles use the more powerful F1A rocket engine powered by composite rocket fuel. The maximum operating distance is 4 km. The missiles are primarily equipped with warheads with flechettes to combat soft targets, material and lightly armored vehicles. After a predetermined flight time, the warhead opens with an electrical impulse and releases the arrow-shaped flechettes. These are distributed over a large target area according to the watering can principle. A combat aircraft can strike an elliptical target area 40 m wide and 800 m long with a full volley of 16 SNEB Multidart 100 missiles. After a flight time of around 3.5 seconds, 3072 Flechettes hit this area. Depending on the starting speed and the shooting distance, the Flechettes have a speed of 400–500 m / s when they hit the target.

The following missiles with the following warheads have been produced since the late 1960s:

SNEB 100 ECCAP
Length 2.50 m, weight 38 kg. Warhead: 14.5 kg shaped charge with fragmentation jacket. Penetration power around 600 mm armor steel.
SNEB 100 EEG
Length 2.50 m, weight 42 kg. Warhead: 17.5 kg fragmentation warhead with impact fuze.
SNEB 100 DEM
Length 2.50 m, weight 42 kg. Warhead: 18.5 kg fragmentation warhead with an impact and delay fuse. For combating field fortifications and building structures. Penetration capacity 150 mm armored steel, 5 m soil or 30 cm reinforced concrete.
SNEB 100 ILU
Missile for battlefield lighting. Warhead with parachute. Generates 0.75 mega candelas for 60 seconds.
SNEB 100 Multidart ABL
Length 2.74 m, weight 39 kg, warhead: 36 flechettes with a diameter of 13.5 mm, each weighing 190 g. At a speed of 500 m / s, they have a penetration rate of 10 mm armor steel.
SNEB 100 Multidart AMV
Length 2.74 m, weight 38 kg, warhead: 192 flechettes with a diameter of 9 mm and 35 g each. At a speed of 500 m / s these have a penetration capacity of 8 mm armor steel.
SNEB 100 X FUM F3 / F4
Length 2.50 m, weight 42 kg, warhead: training warhead with smoke / fire effect.

Starting container

The starting containers are reusable. After the rocket has been launched, the launch container remains on the aircraft and can be reloaded after it has landed. The rockets can be fired individually or in volleys. With volley starts, the interval between starts is 400 milliseconds. The launch containers are fitted with the NATO standard 356 mm (14 ") bomb lock. The following rocket tube launch containers exist:

TBA 100-4 (F3)
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for helicopters and combat aircraft. Empty weight 70 kg, loaded weight 240 kg, length 2.90 m. For 4 SNEB-100 missiles.
TBA 100-6 (C6)
Cylindrical container with aerodynamic tip for helicopters and combat aircraft. Empty weight 115 kg, loaded weight 370 kg, length 3.00 m. For 6 SNEB-100 missiles.

Carrier aircraft

The SNEB missiles are in use worldwide and can be used by a large number of aircraft:

Light aircraft and training aircraft

Warplanes

helicopter

Web links

literature

  • Duncan Lennox: Jane's Air launched Weapon, Edition 1995. Jane's Information Group, 1995, ISBN 0-7106-0866-7 .
  • Jean Tugayé: Un demi-siècle d'Aéronautique en France - Les armements d'Aéronautiques. Center des hautes études de l'armement. Histoire de l'armement division. 2006.
  • Jeremy Flack: NATO Air Forces guided and dropped weapons. Motorbuch Verlag, 2005, ISBN 978-36130-2525-7 .
  • Paul Jackson: Jane's All the World's Aircraft: 1996-97. Jane's Information Group, 1996, ISBN 978-07106-1377-6

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Jean Tugayé: Un demi-siècle d'Aéronautique en France - Les armements d'Aéronautiques. Pp. 14-28.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Duncan Lenox: Jane's Air launched Weapon, Edition 1995. pp. 146-153.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h Jeremy Flack: Guided and dropped weapons of the NATO air forces. Pp. 26-32.
  4. ^ A b Induction Rocket Systems. (PDF) In: tdaarmements.com. TDA Armements, accessed March 5, 2020 (e).
  5. ↑ a b c d SNEB / TBA-68. In: airwar.ru. Airwar.ru, accessed March 3, 2020 (Russian).
  6. ↑ a b Defensereview: Thales Defense TDA Armaments Induction Laser Guided Rocket / Sub-Metric Precision Rocket (ILGR / SMPR) Wireless 2.75 ″ / 70mm Precision-Guided Rocket with ACULEUS LG Warhead for Special Operations Forces (SOF) Precision Strike and Kill Missions.
  7. ↑ Thales Group Thales' Induction Laser Guided Rocket selected by French ministry of Defense.
  8. ↑ Armyrecognition: TDA Armements highlights innovative Telson 2 rocket launcher and Aculeus Laser Guided Rocket.
  9. ^ Paul Jackson: Jane's All the World's Aircraft: 1996-97.