Missile Roland

The Roland was developed from a 1963 joint French and German requirement for a mobile system to protect field formations and high-value targets from low-level aerial threats. A joint development project commenced in 1964, leading to the first guided prototype launch in 1968. The initial clear-weather variant entered operational service with the French Army in 1977, while an all-weather version was first fielded by the German Army in 1978.

This mobile surface-to-air missile system utilizes two-stage solid-fueled rocket propulsion. The missile is housed in a sealed container that functions as a launch tube, with launchers typically configured for automatic reloading. Guidance is facilitated by a pulse-doppler search radar for early warning, while target tracking is conducted via optical sensors or tracking radar. The system can transition between these tracking modes during an engagement to counter electronic jamming or visibility conditions. The standard warhead is a pre-fragmented high-explosive type featuring multiple hollow charges, detonated by either impact or proximity fuses. Upgraded versions utilize a larger warhead with increased hollow-charge counts and enhanced propulsion. Later fire units integrated thermal imaging and laser rangefinders to enable passive all-weather tracking. The system is compatible with multiple missile generations, including the Roland 2, Roland 3, and VT1.

The system has been widely deployed on various tracked and wheeled platforms, including tank chassis, infantry fighting vehicles, and heavy trucks. It was exported to several countries across Europe, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. The United States Army also operated the system on flatbed trucks for a limited period.

During the Falklands War, Argentine forces used the system to defend Stanley airfield, where it destroyed a Royal Navy Sea Harrier. In the Iran-Iraq War, Iraqi units used the system against F-4E and F-5E aircraft. During the Persian Gulf War, the system was credited with the destruction of a Panavia Tornado and an A-6E Intruder. An A-10 Thunderbolt was also lost to a Roland during the 2003 Iraq War. A diplomatic incident occurred in 2003 when missiles discovered in Iraq were thought to be recent deliveries; however, investigations confirmed they were manufactured in 1984 and the markings referred to recent maintenance. While the system has been phased out by its primary originating nations, it remains in the inventories of several export operators.