Nord 5103 AA-20 and 5110 AS-20 missiles

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Another offshoot of this family is the 5103 air-to-air missile, in
which the jet-deflection control system of the SS.ll has been allied
with a supersonic airframe and visual radio-command guidance from
the pilot of the launching aircraft. Large numbers have been fired from
Aquilons during evaluation tests, pending delivery as the prime armament
of the Mystere IV A.
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Flight June 12th 1959 P.798

At Nord-Aviation emphasis has shifted from the A.A.20 to the A.S.20
(air-sol instead of air-air). Compared with the familiar air-to-air weapon
(also designated Nord 5103) the A.S.20 has a larger warhead, facilitated
by the descending trajectory. The proximity fuze is eliminated. Production
of A.S.20 is being shifted from Chatillon to the main plant at
Bourges, chiefly for Fiat G.91s of the Luftwaffe.
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Flight 1 Jan 1960 P.5

The Nord AA-20 is now being developed into the AS-30
air-to-ground missile and an improved air-to-air form with
collision-course ability is the Nord 5104.
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Flight 15 Jan 1960 P.67

Flight September 16th 1960
This is a Farnborough Special - can't find anything though.

flight international. v.80 1961 no 2737
This is the 24 August issue - can't find anything though.

NORD 5110 (AS.20)
Radio-command tactical missile
FRENCH AIR FORCE, FRENCH NAVY, FEDERAL GERMAN AIR FORCE, ITALIAN AIR FORCE (Air/Surface Missile 20)
DERIVED directly from the Nord 5103 (AA.20), the AS.20 is limited in employment by the fact that it must be steered to its target by an operator in the launch aircraft, who must keep the missile and target aligned visually up to the moment of impact. Its advantages are that the overall system is relatively
cheap and simple, can be readily applied to any military aeroplane and can be used against almost any kind of target on the surface or in the air. Compared with the original air-to-air weapon, AS.20 differs in not having a proximity fuze, and the extra space is utilized by the increased size of the variety of warheads which may be fitted. It is reported that there is an air-to-surface version of the radar guided AA.25, but this could be employed only against ships, or similarly clear radar targets.
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FLIGHT, 2 November 1961 P.707

NORD 5103 (AA.20)
Radio-command missile
FRENCH AIR FORCE, FRENCH NAVY (Air/ Air Missile 20, Type M2RT)
BY setting their sights at a not too ambitious concept, Nord-Aviation achieved operational capability with this weapon in 1956. As was remarked in our full description of it on July 15, 1960, "Although the AA.20 was from the outset intended to be a fully effective operational weapon, it was generally regarded as an interim missile pending development of the R.530 series . . ." Accordingly, it is steered by command signals in a coded radio link, governed by a miniature joystick manipulated by the pilot of the launching aircraft. This means that the target and missile flare must be visible to the pilot right up to the point (50ft distance) at which the proximity fuze is triggered. Steering is effected by pitch and yaw demands which bias the interruption of vibrating spoilers in the two nozzles from the sustainer. AA.20 is in use from ten types of French aircraft, and has given rise
to later air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles.
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FLIGHT, 2 November 1961 P.715

NORD 5104 (AA.25)
Radar-command missile
FRENCH AIR FORCE (Air/Air Missile 25)
ADOPTION of radar command guidance makes it no longer necessary for the pilot of the launching aircraft to see the target or steer the missile. This weapon is compatible with the Cyrano radar of the Mirage III, and has also been integrated with US and British radars.
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FLIGHT, 2 November 1961 P.715
 
overscan (PaulMM) said:
I don't think there's going to be anything else to find in Flight.
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Thanks. Yup i think it's enough for Devs.

The last info I need is about AS.20
warhead - explosive mass and composition. But it's hard to find. I found this info about AA.20.

What do You guys think if i would send an e-mail to Airbus (bc nord Aviation is a Airbus now). Any chances to get some info that way?
 
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I'd say less than zero, personally. You would be better off trying to find technical documentation maybe in a French or German museum or archive.
 
bc nord Aviation is a Boeing now
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Whaaaat ? Nord Aviation merged with Sud (of Caravelle fame) in 1969, becoming SNIAS, then Aérospatiale, then EADS, and nowadays - Airbus group (AFAIK).
So I would try Airbus HQ in Toulouse (or Hamburg ?)
 
Archibald said:
bc nord Aviation is a Boeing now
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Whaaaat ? Nord Aviation merged with Sud (of Caravelle fame) in 1969, becoming SNIAS, then Aérospatiale, then EADS, and nowadays - Airbus group (AFAIK).
So I would try Airbus HQ in Toulouse (or Hamburg ?)
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I know i just skipped that bc it's Airbus today.

*Edit, thanks I just noticed i made a error :p
 
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Airitage

airitage.fr airitage.fr

Seems to be relevant to this topic. As is this book potentially -

www.milinfo.org

Nouveauté librairie : Missiles européens au combat (ETAI) -

-13 février 2019 : Les missiles tactiques européens, qu’ils soient antichars, air-sol, antinavires ou sol-air, jouent depuis des décennies un rôle décisif dans les conflits contemporains partout dans le monde. Le chiffre est peu connu, mais plus d’une...
www.milinfo.org www.milinfo.org

An English version exists:

DyKcLlyX4AAwoEy.jpg

books.google.com

European Tactical Missiles

books.google.com
 
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dan_inbox said:
klem said:
Association aéronautique et astronautique de France-Commission Histoire (Fusées des années 40-50)
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Can you please elaborate on picture 080.jpg ?
No matter what the super-imposed text says, the missile does not look like an AA-20 at all.
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Picture 080.jpg shows an AA-10, not an AA-20. The first tests were carried out from the ground using a solid booster.
 
Thanks, Cardonet. Now it makes sense.
Nice and rare photos, too.
 
Am I right that:
AA - Air to Air Missile
AS - Air to Surface Missile
SS - Surface to Surface Missile
SA - Surface to Air Missile
CN or CT - sort of cruise missile or flying bomb?
 
Tzoli said:
Am I right that:
AA - Air to Air Missile
AS - Air to Surface Missile
SS - Surface to Surface Missile
SA - Surface to Air Missile
CN or CT - sort of cruise missile or flying bomb?
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Tzoli said:
Am I right that:
AA - Air to Air Missile
AS - Air to Surface Missile
SS - Surface to Surface Missile
SA - Surface to Air Missile
CN or CT - sort of cruise missile or flying bomb?
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Cible Teleguidee - TV guidance target
 
The only reference I can find to the English version is the Google reference made earlier.
 
The publisher has a website so contacting them seems like the best plan. I imagine it was a small print run commissioned for MBDA.
 
phn said:
Adamok said:
GTX said:
Adamok said:
I saw that twitter post as well and i'm going to write to that guy and ask him for photo with AS. 20 missiles text.
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If you do make contact, would you mind asking where they sourced the book?
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I think it was a gift.
View attachment 664491


View attachment 664490

He will check it for me *SO HAPPY*
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Did he ever reply? Or have you found the information already? It also interests me.
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Nope he didn't reply.
 
Does anybody have information about the explosive mass?
Everything I could find just lists the entire warhead weight
 
KU53947598 said:
Does anybody have information about the explosive mass?
Everything I could find just lists the entire warhead weight
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In lieu of hard information, make an estimate based on similar vintage missiles. There was info for the AA-20 warhead but not the AS-20 posted above.
 
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