AR-1 (missile)
Chinese air-to-ground missile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Archer (AR; Chinese: 射手[1][2]) is a series of Chinese air-to-ground anti-tank missile developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Guided via the semi-active laser, it can be carried by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. It can provide precision attacks on static and slow-moving targets. Overall, the AR-1 missile is comparable to the AKD-10, another Chinese missile.[3]
The weapon was originally designed for the CASC Rainbow series UAVs,[4] and was later expanded into lighter and heavier variants, as well as multiple types of loitering munitions.
AR-1
The AR-1 was the first missile type in the series. The AR-1 was developed by the 11th Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) for equipping the CASC CH-3 and CASC CH-4 drones, with development commenced in August 2006. Unlike other drone-carried missiles in the world, AR-1 was designed specifically for an unmanned aerial vehicle, with highly integrated manoeuvre, fire control, and sensor systems. The AR-1 development test was successfully concluded in October 2011.[2]
The AR-1 weighs around 40 kg (88 lb) and is guided by inertial navigation system and semi-active laser homing. The seeker head is modular and can be replaced with other types. Other variants of AR-1 include AR-1A missile with a heavier warhead and a smokeless motor, AR-1C missile with all-weather capable infrared homing, AR-1D with television (TV) guidance, AR-1E missile with millimeter-wave radar seeker, and the AR-1L missile with tandem-charge HEAT warhead.[2][5]
AR-2
AR-4
The AR-4 is an enlarged version of the AR-1. The AR-4 weighs around 80 kg (180 lb) and fits a 40 kg (88 lb) blast fragmentation/penetration warhead to target heavily armored vehicles and fortified structures. It has a range of 20 km (12 mi) and a launch altitude of 7,000 m (23,000 ft). The missile features a modular seeker design, coming with interchangeable infrared, television, and millimeter-wave radar seekers.[2]
AR-3
The AR-3 is a loitering munition based on the AR series missiles. The munition weighs 100 kg (220 lb) and is powered by a miniature turbojet engine that provides a loitering time of 30 minutes.[2]
Specifications
| AR-1 | AR-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Launch mass | 42 kg (93 lb) | 15 kg (33 lb) |
| Warhead | 9 kg (20 lb) | 4.2 kg (9.3 lb) |
| Length | 1,400 mm (4.6 ft) | 1,180 mm (3.87 ft) |
| Diameter | 175 mm (6.9 in) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Span | 370 mm (15 in) | 330 mm (13 in) |
| Range | 2–8 km (1.2–5.0 mi; 1.1–4.3 nmi) | 1.5–8 km (0.93–4.97 mi; 0.81–4.32 nmi) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 1.1 | Mach 0.7 |
| Release altitude | 500–5,000 m (1,600–16,400 ft) | 500–5,000 m (1,600–16,400 ft) |
| Release speed | 180–250 km/h (97–135 kn) | 180–250 km/h (97–135 kn) |
| Warhead | Penetration blast warhead / Fragmentation-blast warhead | Fragmentation-blast warhead |
| Guidance | INS (LOBL/LOAL) + SAL / infrared homing / Television (TV) / mmW radar | |
| Steering | Double cruciform trailing edges (X-X) | |
| Accuracy (CEP) | ≤1.5m | ≤1.5m |