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Crotale (missile)
Thomson-CSF / Thales · Surface-to-Air · France · Cold War (1970–1991)
The Crotale is a French, all-weather, SHORAD surface-to-air missile system developed to intercept airborne ranged weapons and aircraft, from cruise or anti-ship missiles to helicopters, UAVs or low-flying high-performance fighter aircraft. It was developed by Thomson CSF Matra and consists of a mobile land-based variant as well as various naval ones.
Specifications
- Category
- Missiles
- Sub-Category
- SAM
- Domain
- Defence
- Era
- Cold War (1970–1991)
- Country
- France
- Manufacturer
- Thomson-CSF / Thales
- Operator
- France/export
- Primary Role
- Surface-to-Air
- Status
- In Service
- Service Entry
- 1971
- Produced
- 5000
- Unit Cost (2026$)
- $600K
- Propulsion
- Rocket
- Engine
- Solid-fuel rocket motor
- Thrust / Power
- None (rocket)
- Launch
- Ground/Sea-launched
- Length (ft)
- 8.9
- Wingspan (ft)
- 2.1
- Empty Weight (lb)
- 90
- MTOW (lb)
- 187
- Payload (lb)
- 33
- Service Ceiling (ft)
- 17000
- Range (mi)
- 6
- Max Speed (mph)
- 1764
- Max Speed (Mach)
- 2.3
- Armament
- Blast-fragmentation