SNORA and SURA-D missiles

SNORA
SNORA in the Swiss Military Museum Full
General Information
Type	Air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile
Local name	SNORA
Country of origin	Switzerland
Manufacturer	Oerlikon-Bührle
Working time	1980s-1998
Technical specifications
diameter	81 mm (caliber)
Combat weight	13.2-19.7 kg
speed	520-920 m / s
Range	10 km
Furnishing
Warhead	4.5–11 kg highly explosive (RAK 023 HE FRAG, RAK 024 HE FRAG or RAK 025 HE FRAG), 4.5 kg shaped charge (RAK 026/054 HC)
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SURA-D
SURA-D in the Swiss Military Museum Full
General Information
Type	Air-to-surface missile
Local name	SURA-D
Country of origin	Switzerland
Manufacturer	Oerlikon-Bührle
Commissioning	1980s
Technical specifications
diameter	80 mm (caliber)
Combat weight	11.4-12.9 kg
speed	530-595 m / s
Range	2.5 km
Furnishing
Warhead	3–4.5 highly explosive (RAK 053 HE FRAG, RAK 050 HE FRAG or RAK 052 HE-I), 3 kg shaped charge (RAK 047 HC)
Lists on the subject

The SNORA and SURA-D are 81 mm and 80 mm rockets and were developed by Oerlikon-Bührle in Switzerland in the late 1970s and produced in the 1980s. The SNORA could be used as an air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile , while the SURA-D is just an air-to-surface missile. The SNORA was developed as a joint project with the Italian company SNIA-Viscosa (later SNIA-BPD).

history

The original version of the SURA rocket, the Sura 80R, was developed by Hispano-Suiza in the 1960s. In 1971 Oerlikon-Bührle took over the military division of Hispano-Suiza. Different versions were made: SURA-FL SURA-D and SNORA. SURA refers to the method of attaching missiles in a vertical arrangement to an aircraft. The SNORA missiles can be fired from either a supersonic or subsonic aircraft. The SURA-D can only be used by subsonic aircraft.

Oerlikon also developed the RWK 014, a surface-to-surface launcher for the SNORA missiles. The RWK 014 has two launchers with 15 missiles each and is mounted on the Mowag Tornado infantry fighting vehicle and the M113 . The RWK 014 can fire 10 projectiles per second and has a reload time of six minutes.

The SNORA missile was in service until 1998 while the SURA-D missile is still in use. SNORA rockets can be launched from various launch containers, each holding six or twelve rockets. SURA-D missiles are mounted in a vertical arrangement as a hanging package, with only the top missile hanging on the aircraft's weapon carrier. Using a special suspension system, another rocket can be attached to each SURA-D underneath. In this system, the bottom missile starts first, then the next one above and so on, until the missile attached to the aircraft's weapon carrier is the last to be launched.

Both missiles were exported from Switzerland and adopted by other nations, including Spain , Qatar and Botswana . Italy later used the SNORA propulsion system as the basis for the development of the 81 mm Medusa rocket.

Data

SNORA missile type	RAK 023 HE FRAG	RAK 024 HE FRAG	RAK 025 HE FRAG	RAK 026/054 HC	RAK 022 TNG
Warhead weight	4.5 kg	7 kg	11 kg	4.5 kg	7 kg
explosive	1 kg	1.7 kg	2.8 kg	1 kg	none
Drive unit weight	8.7 kg
total weight	13.2 kg	15.7 kg	19.7 kg	13.2 kg	15.7 kg
Speed, m / s	820	670	520	820/920	670

SURA-D missile type	RAK 053 HE FRAG	RAK 050 HE FRAG	RAK 052 HE-I	RAK 047 HC	RAK 049 MKR	RAK 051 TNG	RAK 048 TNG
Warhead weight	3 kg	4.5 kg	3 kg	3 kg	4.5 kg	3 kg	4.5 kg
explosive	0.87 kg	1.0 kg	1.5 kg	k. A.	k. A.	none	none
Drive unit weight	8.4 kg
total weight	11.4 kg	12.9 kg	11.4 kg	11.4 kg	12.9 kg	11.4 kg	12.9 kg
Speed, m / s	530-595

Individual evidence

1. ↑ flightglobal.com ad
2. ↑ Jane's Infantry Weapons 1984-85, p. 660.
3. ↑ Jane's Air-Launched Weapons Issue 35, p. 692.
4. ↑ Jane's Weapon Systems 1988-1989, p. 750.
5. ↑ International Armada Article
6. ↑ There are also the RAK 027, 029, 030 and 031 training rockets with total weights of 19.7, 13.2, 15.7 and 19.7 kg.