Sunday, November 23, 2008

SeaDart

IOC: 1973

Also Known As
GWS-30
Sea Dart

Origin
United Kingdom

Contractor/s
BAE Systems

Applications
Type 42

Description: The Sea Dart is a medium range surface-to-air missile powered by ramjet and a solid fuel booster rocket. It is intended against aerodynamic threats such as aircraft and cruise missiles flying at a maximum range of 80 km.

The Sea Dart booster accelerates the missile to Mach 2 before it leaves the launch arm. Once launched it depends on the semi-active radar guidance system and ship-mounted illuminators to reach its target.

It was introduced in 1973 being installed into Type 42 and Type 81 destroyers and Invincible-class aircraft carriers. During the Falklands conflict British claimed 7 kills by Sea Dart missiles. In the Gulf war Sea Dart killed an Iraqi anti-ship missile heading for an American cruiser (Missouri?).

Currently the Type 42 destroyers are the sole ships being equipped with Sea Dart missiles. Sea Dart emerged in the 1970s as the replacement for British Sea Slug missiles.

Specifications
Dimensions: Diameter 310 mm, Length 4.4 m, Width 910 mm

Weights: Max Weight 550 kg (1,213 lb), Warhead 22 kg (48.5 lb)

Performance: Max Range 80,000 m (262,467 ft), Top Speed 1,162 mps (Mach 3.50)

Operators

see operators map

Argentina / 100

United Kingdom

Image Gallery

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

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