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IHS Janes Air Launched Mistral 153579110913052132
IHS Janes Air Launched Mistral 153579110913052132
The Mistral ATAM system comprises two m/s. At a distance of around 15 m from the
twin launchers (caters four missiles) and launch helicopter, the sustainer motor is
each launch canister weighs 3.0 kg. It can ignited and the missile achieves a velocity
be integrated on various attack, liaison or of 800 m/s (M2.5). The motor has a Kevlar
transport helicopters. The missile is fitted structure for reduced weight, and is based
with a 3 kg tungsten ball loaded warhead, on the motor used in the Super 530F air-
produced by Nexter (formerly Giat), that to-air missile.
incorporates both an impact fuze and a
laser proximity fuze, the latter being tuned The ATAM can be operated in one of the
to prevent it being triggered by trees, sea two modes: the 'autonomous' mode in
surface or clutter. Guidance is by IR which a simple collimator is used to fire
homing and the seeker is a development along the helicopter axis, and the
of the Magic 2 system, with an increased 'integrated' mode in which a gyrostabilised
sensitivity to detect low infrared (IR) telescope is used to allow engagement of
signals, such as helicopter exhaust targets off the helicopter boresight. Mistral
signatures, at ranges up to 4 km. The IR can be aimed by helmet-mounted or
seeker is a two-colour system; it contains cockpit-mounted sights or by the Gazelle's
a signal processor unit for flare and SAGEM (formerly SFIM) APX M334 roof-
background discrimination. mounted HOT missile sighting system.
The standard two missile launcher rack to
Mistral's ATAM seeker operates in the 3 to which the launch tubes are attached is
5 m mid-wave infrared region using four fitted with NATO 356 mm (14 in)
indium antimonide detectors, to provide an suspension lugs and has a weight of 100
inherently high signal-to-noise ratio. The kg when fitted with two missiles. The
seeker logic varies the scan pattern, rather launcher rack contains the seeker cooling
than performing a fixed rosette scan. This bottle and supplies electrical power to the
allows the scan rate to be reduced by a missiles.
factor of 10, so that each detector moves
past the target's point in space The Mistral 1 ATAM has a maximum range
comparatively slowly and can thus collect of 6 km against aircraft targets, and can
a greater amount of target signature intercept at up to 3 km (10,000 ft) altitude.
energy. It uses a narrow-band pass The Mistral 2 version has similar
matched filter, which further enhances the dimensions and shape to Mistral 1, and
signal-to-noise ratio. has a new motor giving an increased
maximum flight speed of M2.7. Other
Mistral is delivered and fired from a non- improvements include the IR seeker and
reusable canister that has opening nose digital data processing, new control
eyelids for protection of the dome. The surfaces and new rear fins. The missile's
missile is powered by an Safran firing envelope extends from very low-level
(previously known as Snecma) two-stage, (nap-of-the-Earth) flying to 15,000 ft from a
solid propellant rocket motor using a flight speed hovering to 370.4 km/h.
EURENCO propellant charge, with six
nozzles imparting a 10 rps stabilisation Maximum range for the Mistral 2 increased
spin (later models may use a fluted nozzle from 6,000 m to 6,500 m with improved
to achieve the same effect). The booster manoeuvrability and wider launch
burns out for 2.2s within the launch tube, envelope when fired from helicopters. The
which the missile leaves at a velocity of 40 missile now has a high off-boresight
Contractor