Sunday, November 23, 2008

Seawolf

IOC: 1979

Seawolf Block 2

IOC: 2005

Also Known As
GWS-26
Sea Wolf Block 2

Origin
United Kingdom

Contractor/s
MBDA

Description: The Seawolf is a short range, fast reaction, supersonic, surface to air missile intended for ship self-defense against incoming anti-ship missiles. Seawolf is optimized to face multiple missile attack and is accurate enough to intercept 114mm shells.

The Seawolf is guided by a special ship's tracker sub-system which locks on the target and guides the Seawolf missile up to intercept using highly accurate command to line of sight guidance. The vertical launch Seawolf propulsion system combines a booster and a rocket motor, the ramp launch Seawolf only has the second rocket motor. The guidance antennas are placed on the missile rear-face wings providing a high resistance to countermeasures.

The Seawolf Mid-Life Update (SWMLU) program, valued at £260 million, began in November 2000. Under the terms of the program, Alenia Marconi Systems (AMS) will upgrade the Seawolf missile system focusing on guidance system performance on the most demanding threat environments. Royal Navy's Type 22 and Type 23 frigates will be equipped with the new standard Seawolf missile allowing them to serve well into this century. The upgrade encompasses both vertical-launch and steered-launch Seawolf missile as well as the ship's missile tracking system.

The Seawolf Block 2 is a derivative of the proven Seawolf missile introduced in 1979. It features a new electronic actuation system, a new Infrared-Radiofrequency (IR-RF) fuse for better performance against low flying and low signature targets, and ASRAAM's smart multi-chip module for improved processing capability. Seawolf Block 2 will be provided to the Royal Navy and export customers in both configurations conventional launch Seawolf (ramp) and VL Seawolf (VLS).

The first production Seawolf Block 2 missiles will be delivered to the Royal Navy in 2005 to be installed on Type 22 Batch 3 (conventional launch) and Type 23 (VL Seawolf ) frigates.

Specifications
Dimensions: Diameter 180 mm, Length 3 m, Width 450 mm

Weights: Max Weight 140 kg (309 lb), Warhead 13.4 kg (29.5 lb)

Performance: Ceiling 3,000 m (9,843 ft), Max Range 10,000 m (32,808 ft), Top Speed 664 mps (Mach 2)

News
Royal Navy's Seawolf Missiles Life Cycle Extended Through at Least 2017

HMS Sutherland Set to Become Royal Navy's Most Powerful Frigate

Seawolf Block 2 Successfully Fired for the First Time

Operators

see operators map | see family operators map

Chile

United Kingdom

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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