MATRA missiles and projects

Stargazer

ACCESS: USAP
Senior Member
Joined
25 June 2009
Messages
13,621
Reaction score
2,637
From a 1960s magazine:
 

Attachments

  • M 04.jpg
    M 04.jpg
    94.3 KB · Views: 429
  • R 04.jpg
    R 04.jpg
    112.9 KB · Views: 416
  • R 042.jpg
    R 042.jpg
    111.5 KB · Views: 387
  • R 422.jpg
    R 422.jpg
    128 KB · Views: 361
  • R 431.jpg
    R 431.jpg
    131.6 KB · Views: 349
  • Emma.jpg
    Emma.jpg
    131.3 KB · Views: 97
  • Matra rocket.jpg
    Matra rocket.jpg
    90.4 KB · Views: 105
The Matra R530 Air-to-Air missile was fielded with interchangeable guidance heads - SARH and IR homing. Does anybody know when the IR guidance system was developed and fielded? Was it separate to the SARH guided version of the weapon?
 
It appears that the two seekers were developed and fielded on parallel, around 1962-3. There were a couple of different versions of the radar seeker for compatibility with various aircraft, including the Crusader.
 
The third photo, supposed to show a R042, is actually a R422A. Its booster has 3 motors and not four as indicated.

The last picture (Matra rocket) shows a R042. Note that its booster has four motors.

Note also the difference in diameter of the missiles: 60 cm for the R042 and 40 cm for the R422.

Note also that the R042's liquid engine was not ready, this experimental missile was powered by solid motors fixed all around.
 
TomS said:
It appears that the two seekers were developed and fielded on parallel, around 1962-3. There were a couple of different versions of the radar seeker for compatibility with various aircraft, including the Crusader.

Thanks. That is what I suspected.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom