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Nord AS.12


SS.12


Overview


Nord SS.12

Nord SS.12 wire guided surface to surface missile.
Source: Esquilo - © GNU Attribution Share Alike license

Origin
France
Type
Air to ground missile
Entered service
1960 for AS.12
1966 for SS.12M
Status
Obsolete
Development
1957 - 1960
Developer
France - Nord Aviation
Production
1960 - 1982
Producer
France - Nord Aviation (until 1970)
France - Aérospatiale (since 1970)
Unit cost
GBP 3.000 in 1968
$ 76.000 in 1987
Number produced
About 8.100
Designations
Robot 54 (SS.12 in Swedish service)
Notable users
France
United Kingdom
Iran
Iraq

Description


Introduction

The AS.12 is an early Cold War era air to ground missile of French origin. A surface launched variant is called SS.12. The design is derived from the earlier SS.11 anti-tank guided missile. The AS.12 is larger and heavier in order to accommodate a larger warhead. Its intended role is to destroy ground targets that require a larger warhead than the shaped charge warhead of the smaller SS.11 anti-tank missile can effectively engage.

Design

The AS.12 is an upscaled model of the the SS.11 anti-tank missile. The AS.12 is wire guided with manual command to line of sight (MCLOS) guidance. The warhead section has a larger diameter than the rest of the body. The AS.12 is powered by a solid fuel rocket motor. Steering is achieved by four movable vanes within the exhaust nozzle.

Variants

AS.12
Air launched variant.
SS.12
Surface launched variant.
SS.12M
Surface launched variant for use on ships.

Firepower

The air launched AS.12 has a maximum range of up to 8 km. The surface launched model has a range of about 4 km, while the ship launched SS.12M has a range of 5.5 km. All three variants can be fitted with one of three warhead options. The most common model is a semi-armor piercing warhead for use against ships. This penetrates up to 20 mm of steel and has a time delay for exploding within the vessel. A shaped charge HEAT warhead can be used against tanks and concrete bunkers. Infantry and gun emplacements in the open can be engage with a fragmentation warhead.

Launch platforms

The AS.12 can be launched from both helicopters and aircraft. Helicopter types that have been fitted with the AS.12 include the Alouette III, Wasp, Wessex, Lynx, Sea King and AB-212ASW. Aircraft armed with the AS.12 are mostly used for maritime patrol. These include the Alizé, Atlantique, P-2 Neptune and Nimrod. Sweden used a land based launcher for using the SS.12 against landing craft. Various patrol vessels produced in France and the UK have been armed with the SS.12M. Most of these patrol vessels were produced for export sales.

Details


Facts AS.12
General
Origin
France
Type
Air to ground missile
Guidance
Wire guided, MCLOS
Dimensions
Weight
76 kg
Diameter
0.21 m warhead section
0.18 m body
Wingspan
0.65 m
Length
1.87 m
Warhead
Type
OP3C semi-armor piercing warhead
Weight
28.4 kg
Penetration
20 mm steel
Propulsion
Engine
Solid fuel sustainer motor
Solid fuel booster section
Range
7 - 8 km for AS.12
4 km for SS.12
5.5 km for SS.12M
Max speed
370 km/h
Time of flight
About 30 s to 7 km

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Agusta-Bell AB-212ASW

The AS.12 was used by Spain, Turkey and Venezuela on the AB-212ASW naval helicopter.