Type Air-to-air missile In service 1952–1976 No. built 1,500 | Place of origin France Manufacturer Matra | |
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Used by Armee de l'Air
Aeronavale | ||
The R.511 was a French air-to-air missile, developed by Matra, based on their work with the Matra M.04 (R.042) and R.05. The first version of the missile, the R.510, was infra-red guided, and while accurate had very limited operating parameters. The missile was superseded by the far more capable R.530 in French service, although continued to be used in training units until 1976.
Contents
Map of R511, South Africa
Description
The R.510 was optically guided by a PbS infra-red photocell with a 20° field of view. Testing of the R.510 began at Hammaguir in October 1952, and a limited production run of 100 missiles were ordered. However the PbS seeker was insensitive and could only effectively track targets at night. However The R.511 entered service in 1957, replacing the R.510. The R.511 used a Thompson-CSF semi-active radar homing head which was tuned to home on to reflections of the launch aircraft's radar; its antenna scanned conically 8° off the boresight of the missile at a rate of 225 revolutions per second. For longer range firing guidance commands were transmitted directly to the missile via an antenna on the trailing edge of the missiles wing. Limitations of the launch aircraft's radar restricted operation to above 3,000 m (9,800 ft).
The missile could pull 12g while travelling at Mach 1 at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)