Eryx (missile)

Template:Weapon-missile

ERYX is a short-range man-portable SACLOS-based wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) produced by European company MBDA. It is used by several countries, including the Canadian, French, and Norwegian armies. The weapon can also be used against bunkers and pillboxes.

Development

An agreement was reached in 1989 between the French and Canadian governments to co-produce the ERYX missile system. It entered service in 1994.

Description

The missile uses a low-speed "soft launch" that enables it to be fired from confined spaces. This enables it to be used effectively in an urban setting. The missile is then accelerated by a sustainer motor to its maximum speed of 245 m/s at 600 m, which it reaches in 4.3 seconds. The missiles initial low speed is controlled by use of thrust vectoring : the missile has two exhausts around the mid section which fire as the missile rotates.

The missile using SACLOS guidance, the launcher tracks a light source on the rear of the missile and compares its position with the center of the launchers crosshair, sending corrective signals down a trailing control wire. The missile increases resistance to jamming by pulsing the light source on the rear of the missile.

The missile uses a two warheads ("tandem" warheads) in order to defeat reactive armour; a small warhead at the front of the missile and a larger warhead at the rear.

According to MBDA claims the missile has achieved a hit rate of 95%, based on 1,000 test firings.

Operators

External links

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