Tribute to French Air Force CROTALE

[achem44]

http://www.satruth.co.za/equip_00086.htm

http://www.satruth.co.za/equip_00036.htm

Shelterised Cactus firing unit


http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airf...us-crotale-sam

[achem44]

http://dzhdsj.blog.china.com/200711/1350924.html







http://news.ifeng.com/mil/2/200807/0...671902_2.shtml


http://www.linson.cn/history/airshow...ger/part_2.htm

[achem44]

French Air Force Crotale 3000

http://wapedia.mobi/fr/Crotale_(missile)

[achem44]

This metal badge is placed in front of the Rattlesnake, on the grille
COLLECTOR

[achem44]

http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/shinecommer...3.html?p=1&t=3

[achem44]

http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-IADS-Radars.html


The HQ-7 family of SAMs are derivatives of the reverse engineered Thomson CSF Crotale.

The HQ-7 is a Chinese clone of the French Thales/Thomson CSF Crotale SAM. During the 1970s the French supplied samples of the Crotale which was promptly reverse engineered. The cloned Crotale has been built in two configurations, a high mobility variant for PLA Army units on a 4 x 4 scout vehicle, and a less mobile PLA-AF air field defence system, using either a trailer or a truck platform. A naval variant as also been developed.


A four round elevating tube launcher turret is used, mounting the Ku-band Automatic Command to Line Of Sight monopulse radar dish antenna. Export variants are the FM-80 and improved FM-90 with a FLIR tracker and longer ranging missiles.

The naval HQ-7 installations on the Lua, Luhu, Luhia and Jiangwai II classes employ the Type 345 engagement radar, believed to be a reverse engineered Thomson-CSF Castor 2J/C.


If the Chinese copy of the Castor 2J/C is faithful then it will have pulse compression, velocity discrimination filters, frequency agility to enable clutter de-correlation and a passive tracking capability. System employs Doppler tracking with a first blind speed of 1,000m/sec.

Maximum airborne target tracking range is given as 40km. Antenna beamwidth is reported to be 0.67º with 43 dB of gain across a stabilized elevation of -25º~+85º. Peak power is given at 30kW with an antenna gain of 43.0dB.

Two types of acquisition radar are associated with different variants of the HQ-7 family of SAM systems. The first of these uses a trucated paraboloid reflector, the second a planar array design. The earlier configuration has been supplied on a towed trailer, a 4 x 4 vehicle and a 6 x 6 vehicle, the newer configuration only the latter.

Self propelled variant of the HQ-7/FM-80 acquisition radar on 6 x 6 vehicle (above) and 4 x 4 vehicle.

FM-90 Crotale acquisition radar.

http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-D...mozTocId754839

http://en.allexperts.com/e/h/hq/hq-7.htm

http://sinodefence.com/navy/navalmissile/hq7naval.asp

http://sinodefence.com/army/surfacet...le/hongqi7.asp

[achem44]

Currently there are several countries that operate the Crotale or Crotale NG missile.
Bahrain
Egypt
Finland (The Finnish Army operates Crotale NGs on Sisu XA-181 vehicles, designated ItO 90. 21 systems.)
France (Crotale and Crotale NG (12 systems)
Greece (Crotale NG, used by Hellenic Air Force (9 systems) and Hellenic Navy (2 systems).
South Korea (Crotale NG (K-SAM), 114 systems.)
Oman (Crotale NG)
Pakistan
Saudi Arabia (Crotale NG)
United Arab Emirates

Former operators:
Portugal
South Africa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crotale_missile

see also :
http://www.deagel.com/Surface-to-Air...000848001.aspx

"Description: Crotale is a high-velocity surface-to-air missile (SAM) designed to engage airborne targets flying at Mach 2.3 of speed and up to 5,000 meters of altitude. Crotale air defense system has been designed for integration onto ground vehicles as well as surface ships providing point defense. It relies on a digital radio command-to-line-of-sight guidance system. Its propulsion system is based on a single state solid propellant rocket motor.

The Crotale missile system developed by French Matra and Thomson-CSF, now MBDA, has been exported to several nations including Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Shahine is the version sold to Saudi Arabia Armed Forces. Existing Crotale batteries can be upgraded with high-performance VT-1 missile produced by Thales. Specifications
Dimensions: Length 2.4 m
Weights: Max Weight 75 kg (165 lb), Warhead 13 kg (28.7 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 6,000 m (19,685 ft), Max Range 11,000 m (36,089 ft), Top Speed 1,162 mps (Mach 3.50)

This one too :http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+look...+...-a09347237

[achem44]

nice sketch

Some more Chinese HQ-7 stuff from http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...d.php?t=152230








And a Pakistani one:

http://www.pakdef.info/pakmilitary/a...m/crotale.html

"Crotale is the backbone of Pakistan Air Defence System. Crotale Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system has been in service of Pakistan Air Defence forces for the past two decades and has successfully thwarted any enemy designs against our vital and strategic installations."
http://www.pro-pakistan.com/2009/08/...m-of-pakistan/

[achem44]

http://www.avmaroc.com/videos/crotal...s69Z73x4.html#

[achem44]

http://www.harpoondatabases.com/Ency...a/Entry80.aspx


http://partizan.parsiblog.com/Archive127715.htm


http://jdb.marine.defense.gouv.fr/ca...uipage/page/10


http://frenchnavy.free.fr/ships/airc...eristiques.htm


http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier...uet-Crotal.jpg


http://base.mforos.com/770694/4176824-marina-francesa/

[achem44]

http://www.satruth.co.za/equip_00086.htm

http://www.satruth.co.za/equip_00036.htm

Shelterised Cactus firing unit


http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airf...us-crotale-sam

http://www.saairforce.co.za/seed/pub...4512_large.jpg

[achem44]

Ready to deploy


Deployed


Crotale units at rest


A lot of Crotales


Crotale in the fog


With a cow

[wilhelm]

I used to have a picture on my old PC that was described as an Umkhonto/SAHV-3 being fired from a Crotale/Cactus firing vehicle during tests in South Africa during the late 80's early 90's. I'll see if I have it still.

[Dark Avenger]

To save you the trouble:

[achem44]

Electronic Warfare Block Training 08-1,
informally known as Exercise Storm Crow, was held at and around the reserve airbase of Bertrix from 18 till 29 February 2008. It involved assets of the Belgian Air and Land Component as well as of the Dutch, French, German, Norwegian and US armed forces



http://www.baha.be/Webpages/Navigato...orm%20Crow.htm