Umkhonto
| Umkhonto | |
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| General Information | |
| Type | Anti-aircraft guided missile |
| Manufacturer | Denel Aerospace Systems |
| Commissioning | 2005 |
| Technical specifications | |
| length | 3.32 m (IR) |
| diameter | 180 mm |
| Combat weight | 135 kg (IR) |
| span | 500 mm |
First stage drive |
Solid rocket |
| speed | Do 2 |
| Range | 12 km (IR) |
| Furnishing | |
| steering | Inertial navigation platform plus data link |
| Target location |
Infrared (Umkhonto IR) Active radar target search (Umkhonto-R) |
| Warhead | 23 kg fragmentation warhead |
| Detonator | Impact and proximity detonators |
| Weapon platforms | Valor class , Hämeenmaa class , Hamina class |
| Lists on the subject | |
Umkhonto ( Zulu : Speer ) is a vertically launched anti-aircraft missile made by the South African manufacturer Denel Aerospace Systems .
development
In the mid-1990s, Denel began developing a family of anti-aircraft missiles. Three types of guided missiles with different search heads were developed under the name SAHV . Eventually, the focus was on two types: the radar-guided ( Umkhonto-R ) and the infrared-guided variant ( Umkhonto-IR ). The first flight of an Umkhonto-IR took place in 2005. The Umkhonto-R version is still under development. Another variant called Umkhonto-NG is currently being developed; it should increase the range up to 25 km with a booster . The entire system has a modular structure and can be installed on both ships and vehicles.
Mission profile
The Umkhonto-IR works together with a surveillance radar. An actual fire control radar is not required. The surveillance radar supplies the missile with target data before it takes off. During the flight, the missile continues to be supplied with target data from the surveillance radar via the data link . The control takes place here by means of an inertial navigation system . The missile's own IR seeker head is used for the target approach. If the target is hit directly, the warhead is detonated by the impact fuse. During a flyby, the warhead is ignited by the proximity fuse.
technology
The weapon is used both land and sea-based and launched vertically. The steering takes place via steering fins at the rear and a swiveling nozzle . It can perform maneuvers with a radial acceleration of up to 40 g .
The infrared seeker head is based on the one developed by Denel for the U-Darter air-to-air missile and can detect the IR signature of a target from any direction.
The fire control system of the naval version is able to control up to eight Umkhonto missiles simultaneously and independently of one another against eight targets. With the execution for the national armed forces four targets can be fought at the same time. Airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles and low-flying (seaskimmer) anti-ship missiles can be fought.
variants
- Umkhonto-IR Block 1 : 1st series version from 2005, range 12 km
- Umkhonto-IR Block 2 : Improved version for Finland and Algeria , range 15 km
- Umkhonto-IR Block 3 : Version presented in 2013, with larger booster, range 20 km
operator
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Algeria - The Algerian Navy is using the Umkhonto on the MEKO-200AN- class frigates . -
Finland - The first export customer is the Finnish Navy , which has installed an eight-cell system for missiles on each of its Hämeenmaa-class mine layers and the Hamina-class corvettes . It was also planned to use it on the Tuuli-class hovercraft . -
South Africa - Currently, the Umkhonto system is used by the South African Navy on Valor-class frigates , which are equipped with two eight-launchers for the missile. The South African army also uses a land-based version, with a rocket battery consisting of four starters, a surveillance radar and a command post.
Web links
- Manufacturer's data sheet (pdf, 2.1 MB, English)
- Umkhonto at www.defenceweb.co.za
Individual evidence