Missile Crotale

The Crotale system originated from a 1964 South African requirement for a mobile, all-weather air defense capability. With South Africa funding a significant portion of the development, the first units, designated "Cactus," were delivered to its armed forces in 1971. The French Air Force, impressed by the system's performance during tests, subsequently placed an order for twenty batteries. Over the years, the system has undergone significant evolution, leading to the development of a "Nouvelle Génération" (NG) variant beginning in 1991 to address modern threats.

The Crotale is a versatile short-range surface-to-air missile system designed to engage a variety of aerial targets in all weather conditions. Its capabilities are tailored to counter high-speed aircraft flying at low and very low altitudes, while later versions like the Crotale NG were specifically enhanced to engage low-speed threats such as hovering helicopters. The system employs a dual guidance method using both radar and infrared sensors for high accuracy and resistance to countermeasures. The missile is armed with a pre-fragmented warhead detonated by a proximity fuze, which is designed to project a focused pattern of shrapnel toward the target. Continuous modernization has resulted in several distinct versions with improved performance, greater range, and increased resilience to electronic warfare environments.

Deployed by numerous countries, the Crotale operates from both land and naval platforms. The standard land-based configuration consists of a networked battery, which includes a central acquisition unit for target detection and two or three launch units. These can be mounted on dedicated wheeled vehicles or trailers for high mobility. In its naval role, the system has been adapted for a wide array of warships, from corvettes to aircraft carriers, utilizing configurations that include turreted launchers and, in later iterations, vertical launch systems. The Crotale has a proven combat record, having been used during the South African Border War, the Chadian-Libyan conflict, and the 1986 U.S. operation against Libya, where it was credited with downing an F-111 bomber. More recently, systems supplied to Ukraine have been actively used in defense against Russian cruise missiles.