Missile Super R.530
Summary
| Category | Air-to-Air Missile |
| Sub-type | Radar-guided air-to-air missile |
| Origin country | 🇫🇷 France |
| Manufacturer | Matra |
Technical specifications
| Super R.530 | |
|---|---|
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead Weight | 30 kg |
| Diameter | 263 mm (10.4 in) |
| Span | 900 mm (35.4 in) |
| Length | 3540 mm (139.4 in) |
| Weight | 250 kg (551 lb) |
| Range | 60 km (37 mi) |
| Max Speed | Mach 4.6 |
Description
The Super R.530 is a French medium-range air-to-air missile, developed as an improvement over the older R.530 missile. Manufactured by Matra, which later became part of the European consortium MBDA, the Super R.530 was primarily integrated with French aircraft such as the Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000. The missile was intended for beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements and entered service in the late 1970s.
The Super R.530 comes in two main variants: one using semi-active radar homing (SARH) and another using infrared (IR) guidance. The radar-guided variant relies on the aircraft's radar to illuminate the target, while the infrared version uses its own infrared seeker to home in on the heat emissions from the target. This flexibility allows it to be employed in different tactical scenarios, although the SARH version has generally been considered more effective for BVR engagements.
The missile employs a two-stage solid rocket motor to propel it towards its target, and it is equipped with a high-explosive warhead designed to inflict maximum damage upon impact. Its guidance system, depending on the variant, allows for "fire-and-forget" or "fire-and-update" capabilities. The latter involves the launching aircraft updating the missile's targeting information post-launch, improving the odds of a successful hit.
One of the key improvements in the Super R.530 over its predecessor was enhanced electronic counter-countermeasures (ECCM), making it more resistant to jamming and other electronic warfare tactics employed by enemy aircraft.
Although considered a capable missile during its time, the Super R.530 has largely been phased out and replaced by more modern missiles such as the MICA and Meteor, which offer better range, guidance systems, and overall performance. It should be noted that while the Super R.530 had its strengths, it faced stiff competition from other medium-range air-to-air missiles like the American AIM-7 Sparrow and the Russian R-27 during its operational life.