Nord SS.11

Infobox Weapon
name=SS.11


caption=SS.11 at the US Army Redstone testing ground
origin=France
type=MCLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile
is_ranged=yes
is_missile=yes
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=Nord Aviation
design_date=1953
manufacturer=
unit_cost=
production_date=1956 - mid 1980s
number=180,000
variants=
spec_label=
weight=30 kg
length=1190 mm
part_length=
width=
height=
diameter=165 mm
crew=
cartridge=
caliber=
barrels=
action=
rate=
velocity=
range=500 m to 3,000 m
max_range=
feed=
sights=
filling=Type 140AC anti-armour
filling_weight=6.8 kg
detonation=
yield=
armour=
primary_armament=
secondary_armament=
engine=
engine_power=
pw_ratio=
transmission=
payload_capacity=
suspension=
clearance=
wingspan=500 mm
propellant=
fuel_capacity=
vehicle_range=
ceiling=
altitude=
boost=
speed=190 m/s
guidance=MCLOS
steering=
accuracy=
launch_platform=
transport=

SS.11 is the designation of the Nord Aviation MCLOS wire-guided anti-tank missile. In American service the missile was designated the AGM-22. The missile entered service with the French army in 1956. Production of the missile ceased some time in the 1980s after 180,000 missiles had been produced.

Development

Development of an improved version of the SS.10 (Nord-5203) began in 1953 as the Nord-5210. The missile was intended as a heavy version of the SS.10 for use from vehicles, ships and helicopters. The missile entered service with the French army under the designation SS.11. It was used as the first helicopter-mounted (on Alouette IIs) anti-tank missile worldwide."Helicopters at War" - Blitz Editions, Page, 63, ISBN 1 85605 345 8]

The later B model of the missile replaces some of the original electronics with solid state components. The transistorisation was rewarded by improved handling, which allowed the missile pilots to overcorrect less.

History

After the cancellation of the SSM-A-23 "Dart" in 1958 the United States began evaluating the SS.11, and accepted it into service in 1961 as the AGM-22A. The missile was deployed from UH-1B Huey helicopters using either the XM11 or M22 armament subsystems.

The missile was used in combat for the first time in 1966 during the Vietnam War. The missile was phased out by 1976, having been replaced by the BGM-71 TOW. The British Royal Air Force fired at least four of the missiles in the Falklands War against an Argentine battery of 105mm guns, during the Battle of Wireless Ridge, with little apparent success. Fact|date=February 2007

Due to the manual nature of the guidance, performance of the missile was poor—requiring a highly trained operator—see MCLOS.

Description

A variety of warheads are available for the missile:
* 140AC hollow-charge - 600 mm versus RHA
* 140AP02 blast-fragmentation - 10 mm steel plate
* 140AP59 anti personnel
* 140CCN anti-shipping

On launch the rocket booster fired for 1.2 seconds, after which the sustainer engine fires for 20 seconds.

In flight the missile is steered by the vectoring of thrust from the engine. Since the missile spins in flight, a gyroscope is needed to determine the missiles relative orientation to the ground. This is very similar to the system used on AT-3 Sagger.

Models

* SS.11 / AGM-22 - Surface-to-surface wire-guided anti-tank missile.
** SS.11A1 XAGM-22A
** SS.11B1 XAGM-22B
** SS.11B1 (training) XATM-22B
* AS.11 - Air-to-surface missile.
* SS.11M - Maritime surface-to-surface wire-guided anti-ship missile.

Operators

;flag|Abu Dhabi;ARG;flag|Bahrain;BEL;BRA;flag|Brunei;CAN;DEN;flag|Ethiopia;FIN: SS 11 B 1, known as "Rannikko-ohjus 63", or "RO-63".;FRA;GER;GRE;IND;IRN;IRQ;ISR;ITA;flag|Ivory Coast;LBN;LBA;flag|Malaysia;NLD;NOR;PER;POR;SAU;flag|Senegal;RSA;ESP: Aboard Army Alouette III and Navy SH-3/AB-212ASW helicopters;SWE;flag|Switzerland;TUN;TUR;GBR;flag|Uganda;USA;VEN

:"Please note that this list is not complete."

See also

*Harpoon, later model based on the Nord SS.11

References

* http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/ss11.htm
* http://waronline.org/IDF/Articles/firstATGM.htm ru icon
* http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-22.html
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