☰
MENU
×
Aircraft / Aviation
Vehicles & Artillery
Small Arms
Warships & Submarines
Military Ranks
Military Pay Scale (2024)
Special Forces

Crotale SAM


Surface-to-Air Missile / Air Defense System


France | 1978



"The French Crotale air defense system program produced some 6,000 missiles since inception in 1978."

Flag of Image from the United States DoD imagery database.
Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Crotale SAM Surface-to-Air Missile / Air Defense System.
Not Available. The turret system component itself is adaptable to a variety of wheeled / tracked chassis types.
Installed Power
12 miles
20 km
Range
Structure
The physical qualities of the Crotale SAM Surface-to-Air Missile / Air Defense System.
3
(MANNED)
Crew
8,818 lb
4,000 kg | 4.4 tons
Weight
Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Crotale SAM Surface-to-Air Missile / Air Defense System.
4 x Missile-launching tubes for VT1 / Mk.III anti-aircraft missiles.
AMMUNITION:
8 x VT1 / Mk.III anti-aircraft missiles.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Crotale SAM family line.
Crotale R440 - Base Variant
Crotale NG - Next Generation upgraded version
Crotale Mk.III - Modernized Crotale launcher system
"Sea Crotale" - Navalized variant
HQ-7 - Chinese reverse-engineered copy
Shaheb Thaqeb - Iranian copy of the Chinese HQ-7 series.
SICA R460 - Saudi Arabian version by Thomson-CSF
Chun Ma (Pegasus) K-SAM - Joint Export Venture for South Korean Army.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/10/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Crotale missile defence system can be fitted on a variety of chassis types and launched against targets overland or overwater. The French Air Force, Finnish Army and French Navy are just some of the users of this multi-dimensional system which began its design phase in 1967 and entered production in 1978. Four Crotale missile defense systems can be networked to cooperate in unison, providing an effective "Friend-Or-Foe" net against inbound aerial threats including cruise missiles. The Crotale missile has proven highly maneuverable for its role and can reach speeds in excess of Mach 3.5 with an engagement range out to 11 kilometers (6.8 miles).

Fire control utilizes multiple sensors with passive optics and radar working alongside electronic countermeasure systems. The target detection and acquisition systems are completely automated to achieve the fastest response time by the crew. The highly adaptable system can be ported onto a variety of chassis requirements some of which have been seen on Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs), 6-wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and 4-wheeled armored cars.

The Crotale "NG" ("Next Generation") variant became an upgraded production mark when it was introduced with Finland. Other marks have included the HQ-7 Chinese reverse-engineered model then copied by the Iranians. Saudi Arabia operates the SICA "Shahine" R460 series. The Crotale Mk.III is the latest in the Crotale line and began testing around 2008 - this version is capable of engaging smaller drone aircraft with accuracy.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Crotale SAM. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 500 Units
Contractor(s): Thales Air Defence, Bagneux, France
National flag of Bahrain National flag of Egypt National flag of France National flag of Finland National flag of Greece National flag of Iran National flag of Oman National flag of Pakistan National flag of Portugal National flag of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National flag of South Africa National flag of South Korea National flag of the United Arab Emirates

[ Bahrain; Egypt; Finland; France; Greece; Iran; Oman; Pakistan; Portugal; South Korea; Saudi Arabia; South Africa; United Arab Emirates ]
1 / 1
Image of the Crotale SAM
Image from the United States DoD imagery database.

Going Further...
The Crotale SAM Surface-to-Air Missile / Air Defense System appears in the following collections:
HOME
ARMOR INDEX
ARMOR BY COUNTRY
VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE VEHICLES
VEHICLES BY CONFLICT
VEHICLES BY TYPE
VEHICLES BY DECADE
COLD WAR VEHICLES
MODERN TANKS
MODERN ARTILLERY
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)