Umkhonto (missile)

Umkhonto
Umkhonto-IR Missile
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	South Africa
Service history
Used by	South Africa, Finland, Algeria
Production history
Manufacturer	Denel Dynamics
Specifications
Weight	130 kg (290 lb)[1]
Length	3.32 m (10.9 ft)[1]
Diameter	180 mm (7.1 in)[1]
Warhead	23 kg (51 lb)[1]
Wingspan	500 mm (20 in)[1]
Operational range	12 km (7.5 mi)(Umkhonto-IR Block 1) [1] 15 km (9.3 mi) (Umkhonto-IR Block 2) 20 km (12 mi) (Umkhonto-ER) 80 km (50 mi)(Umkhonto-R)[2]
Flight altitude	10 km
Speed	Approx. Mach 2[1]
Guidance system	All-aspect infra-red, command update fire and forget
Launch platform	Naval Vertical launch system, Land truck mounted VLS system.

Umkhonto (Zulu: spear) is a South African, vertical launch (VLS) surface-to-air missile (SAM) manufactured by Denel Dynamics (formerly known as Kentron) available in infrared homing (Umkhonto-IR) and radar homing version (Umkhonto-R).

History

Development of the system began in 1993 after the announcement of the ban on the supply of weapons systems in South Africa, including anti-aircraft missile systems.

Ground-based system tests completed in July 2005. The tests included telemetry UAV interception target (Denel Skua), trajectories with different profiles, including low-flying, walking and exercising Collision Course evasive action.

The first successful launch from the ship was carried out on board the South Africa Navy Frigate Amatola on the 23 November 2005. The missile launch was produced by supersonic target (Denel Skua) near Cape Agulhas . Repeated tests were performed a week later. Instead warhead missiles were equipped with telemetry data transmission unit. According to the telemetry, both targets were hit.

Variants

Umkhonto-IR Block1

Designed for all-round defence against simultaneous air attacks from multiple targets, the Umkhonto-IR missile is the first vertically launched infrared-homing surface-to-air missile, also the first IR-homing missile to use lock-on-after-launch. Upon launch, the missile flies to a lock-on point, following on-board inertial navigation. The missile then activates its two-colour IR-seeker (variant of U-Darter AAM's seeker) and locks on. Target updates are received via data link, enabling the missile to counter evasive manoeuvres by the target.

The Umkhonto has a set of tail-mounted, aerodynamic control fins, as well as thrust vectoring vanes in the motor nozzle (similar to Denel's A-Darter AAM), allowing for 40 g maneuvering. The system's 3-D fire-control radar enables simultaneous engagement of eight targets for the naval version. The missile uses a low-smoke propellant to avoid detection. In July 2005 it was successfully tested in various scenarios against a Denel made Skua drones.

The sealed container has a cylindrical pad shape. During start-reactive gases are reflected from the bottom of the container and go straight up between the walls of the container and the body of the rocket. After starting the container used to recharge removed and replaced with a loaded container. Reloading the launcher is made either on the basis of, or in a calm sea using an auxiliary vessel. High reliability is achieved through the built-in self-test hardware that provides the minimum cost of maintenance staff.

The system consists of modules starting with missiles in launch canisters, control panel, system controller (control computer and control system interface shooting), the startup sequence controllers (one for every four missiles), transmitter remote control, antenna station and the cooling system of the infrared sensor before starting.

Umkhonto-IR Block 2

This variant of the IR Umkhonto was recently developed for the Finnish Navy. It has a more advanced seeker-head algorithm for differentiating between the target and background clutter often found in and around the Baltic archipelago. Because of the improvement in the seeker head, the newer version has a more efficient flight path, allowing for an increase in range of 3 km (1.9 mi); a new maximum range of 15 km (9.3 mi). Its current flight ceiling is 10 km (6.2 mi).

Denel Dynamics has stated its intention to end production of the Mk1 and continue with the Mk2 version of the missile, as a part of the missile's overall growth path.

Umkhonto-IR-ER

The extended range (ER) variant of the IR Umkhonto was test fired in October 2013. During the demonstration, three missiles successfully destroyed low-cost aerial target systems (LOCATS – provided by the South African Army), two at 15 km range and one at 20 km. Its current flight ceiling is 12 kilometers. The targets were launched from the Denel Overberg Test Range and flew out to sea before turning inshore on an elliptical track. The successful ground-based firing tests proved that the range of the Umkhonto has now been extended to 20 km while the physical dimensions of the missile remain unchanged. The test was also part of the development of a mobile ground-based system for the South African Army.^[3]

Further extended range versions (Umkhonto-R) are in development. They will feature a rocket booster and Radar seekers.^[4][5]

Umkhonto-R

The radar-guided version's range is extended to 80 km (50 mi) and has a higher operational ceiling 15,000 m (49,000 ft). It is also 65 kg (143 lb) heavier and 98 cm (39 in) longer than the Umkhonto-IR version. Denel Dynamics is currently in negotiations with the Brazilian Navy for joint development of the missile.

Other developments

Denel Dynamics is currently developing a longer range Umkhonto-IR-ER variant with a range exceeding 20 km with a larger motor that extends the range to 30 km, and also has designed a Umkhonto-CLOS (command-to-line-of-sight) version that could prove attractive in the African Region as well as a Beyond Visual Range Radar-Guided version to increase range to 80 km (50 mi).

Current users

 Finland

• Finnish Navy: local designation ItO 2004 (Umkhonto-IR Block 2), fitted on the Hamina class missile boats in 2002 and the Hämeenmaa class minelayers in 2006.

 South Africa

• South African Navy: Umkhonto-IR Block 2 fitted on the Valour class frigates.

Future users

 Algeria

• Algerian National Navy: The Umkhonto has been selected by Algeria for use on its Meko frigates.^[3][6][7] The Algerian Navy ordered two Meko A-200 frigates from Germany, which are to be equipped with Umkhonto-IR Block 2 missiles. These ships are the same type as the South African Navy's Valour class frigates.^[8]

Potential sales

Brazil

• Brazilian Navy: In 2004 Brazil expressed an interest in acquiring the radar-guided version Umkhonto missile system for its aircraft carrier São Paulo.^[9]

Failed bids

 Sweden

• Swedish Navy: The Swedish government has expressed interest in the Umkhonto-IR system for five Visby class corvettes for at total cost of about 1 bn SEK.^[10] Due to budgetary constraints a decision was taken in 2008 to delete the SAM requirement.

 Bangladesh

• Bangladesh Navy: Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of South Korea proposed this system for their corvette offer for the Bangladesh Navy's Corvette tender in 2011. The Bangladesh Navy opted for a Chinese corvette offer.

 Indonesia

• Indonesian Navy: The Indonesian government are interested in the Umkhonto-IR system for the SIGMA class Corvette.The MICA vertical launch air defence missile was chosen instead.

See also

• Barak VLS SAM
• Barak 8
• Sea Wolf VLS SAM
• MICA (missile)

References

Notes

External links

• Denel Dynamics Official Site
• Denel Official Site