Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
August 29, 2008
IWG Report 2007
Independent Working Group Report: Missile Defense, the Space Relationship, and the Twenty-First Century. »»
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AS-34 Kormoran 1
| Country: | Germany |
|---|---|
| Class: | ALCM |
| Target: | Ship |
| Length: | 4.40 m |
| Diameter: | 0.34 m |
| Launch Weight: | 600.00 kg |
| Payload: | 165 kg HE, SAP |
| Propulsion: | Solid w/ solid booster |
| Range: | 30.00 km |
| Guidance: | INS, active radar |
| Status: | Operational |
| In Service: | 1977-Present |
| Exported: | Italy, France |
Details
The AS-34 Kormoran 1 is a short-range, air-launched, solid-propellant, single warhead, air-to-surface missile developed and manufactured by Germany. Development began in 1962, and Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm became the prime contractor in 1967. The missile was initially designed for anti-ship warfare in coastal waters, although it can also be used against land targets as well. It is currently deployed on F-104G Starfighter and Tornado aircraft.
The AS-34 Kormoran 1 is cylindrical in shape with a pointed nose, four delta-shaped wings at mid body, and four moving delta-shaped fins at the rear. It is 4.4 m in length, has a body diameter of 0.34 m, and has a launch weight of 600 kg. Propulsion is solid propellant, and the missile is guided by an inertial navigation system (INS) in the midcourse phase, and an active radar in the terminal phase. The missile has a minimum range of 8 km, a maximum range in 30 km, and a cruising speed of Mach 0.9. It carries a 165 kg high explosive semi-armor piercing warhead.
The AS-34 Kormoran 1 completed its trials in 1974, and entered service with the German Navy in 1977. About 350 missiles were manufactured, and production continued until 1983. An improved version, the AS-34 Kormoran 2, entered service in 1991.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 45 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, July 2006), pp. 46-48; GlobalSecurity.org, “AS.34 Kormoran,” available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/as34.htm, accessed on August 1, 2006.
