R550 Magic 2 French Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

R550

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Basic Information

Name

R550 Magic 2 French Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

Designation

R550

Alternate Designation

—

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

1985

Description

The R550 Magic 2 replaced the AD3601 seeking head by the AD3633, allowing frontal fire on the target. The R550 Magic 1 could only be fired from the rear on the target due to the lack of sensitivity of the IR detector. R550 Magic 2 also received improved counter-countermeasures including flare rejection. R550 Magic 2 has many more improvements over R550 Magic 1, but principally has an all-aspect engagement capability and it takes far less time to prepare the missiles for launch. The R550 Magic 2 retains the same general aerodynamic and external characteristics as the Magic 1, with double cruciform canards (the aft set acting as control surfaces) and free rotating rear fins. Magic 2 is 2.75 m long, has a body diameter of 157 mm, a wing span of 0.66 m and a weight of 90 kg. However, it has an increased range of up to 5 km compare to the R550 Magic 1 with 3 km. In Pakistan Air Force R550 Magic and R550 Magic 2 short-range missiles can be carried by Mirage III/V, F-16A/B, F-7, and A-5.

Variants

R.550 Magic The R550 Magic is a short-range missile designed in 1968 by French company Matra to compete with the American AIM-9 Sidewinder.The largest single competitor for Sidewinder in Western Europe, the Matra Magic R.550 has better design and performance requirements. It can be fired at any speed (no minimum), meaning that it is a prime candidate for the arming of attack helicopters. Magic is slightly larger in diameter than Sidewinder, but the launch installation components in the carrying aircraft were wisely made interchangeable. The tail fins of the R.550 are free to rotate around the rocket’s nozzle, providing of spin-stabilization. The Magic has 8 fixed fins, and 4 movable fins. It has a solid-fuel engine, and can engage the target independently from the firing aircraft with its passive IR guidance system. The warhead is armed 1.8 seconds after launch, giving a minimum engagement distance of 0.30 km, and a maximum range of around 3 km.

R550 Magic 2 Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

Missile

Name R550 Magic 2

Type Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile

Basic Load 2-4

Manufacturer Matra, MBDA

Length 2.75 m

Diameter 160 mm

Span, Foreplanes 0.47 m

Span, Tailplanes 0.66 m

Weight 89 kg

Warhead Pre-fragmented with controlled splintering

Warhead Weight 13 kg

Configuration Thin cylinder with rounded nose 2 sets of cruciform foreplanes, front "cropped delta" non-steering, rear compound sweep steerable rear cruciform "cropped delta" fins mounted on slip ring and rotating freely

Propulsion Richard single-stage butylene solid-propellant rocket

Speed Mach 3+

Effective Range 3 km

Minimum Distance to Launch 500 m

Altitude 20,000 m

Guidance System All-aspect, cooled IR seeker proximity fuze detonation

Platforms Attack Attack A-4 Skyhawk Alpha Jet Jaguar Mirage V Mirage F1 Sea Harrier Super Etendard Fighters F-5 Tiger MiG-21 MiG-23 Mirage III Mirage 2000 Rafale F-16 Trainers Hawk Note: Users may employ the Magic on other aircraft that are capable of firing the AIM-9 Sidewinder

Image Sources

Notes https://en.missilery.info/missile/magic2; https://www.turbosquid.com/FullPreview/306238;

Details

Country of Origin France

Category Air-to-Air Missiles

Air > Air-to-Air Missiles

Classification

Domain

Air & Air Defense

Equipment Status

Active

Operators (6)

France

India

Greece

Jordan

Qatar

Romania

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