Air defense / Self-propelled SAM systems / Shahine
Shahine
General Facts
- TYPE
Self-propelled SAM system - ORIGIN
France - NICKNAMES
Crotale 2000 (Shahine 1)
Crotale 4000 (Shahine 2) - DESIGNED
Early 1970's - DESIGNER
Thomson-CSF - PRODUCTION
1980 - 1990 - PRODUCERS
France - Thomson-CSF - QUANTITY
73 AMX-30 firing units
36 AMX-30 acquisition units
19 ATTS firing units
10 ATTS acquisition units - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Larger engagement radius than Crotale
Parts commonality with AXM-30 tank
Data link amongst vehicles and radar network
Very expensive
Large and heavy vehicles
Introduction
The Shahine is a self-propelled SAM system of French origin. It was developed in the 1970's for a contract awarded by Saudi Arabia. The Shahine is a further developed and more capable version of the widely used Crotale self-propelled SAM system. The Shahine was developed to keep up with armored forces and is to provide air defense at the front line.
Missile
The Shahine system uses the R460 missile, which is a further developed version of the R440 missile used by the Crotale system. The missile has a conventional layout. The fuze and control vanes are located at the front, followed by the warhead and battery. The solid propellant rocket motor makes up the middle and the cruciform wings and radar receiver are located at the rear.
Layout
The Shahine system consists of a fire unit with six missiles and a fire control radar and a separate acquisition radar. The majority of Shahine systems are based on the AMX-30 tracked chassis, although a towed shelter version was also produced. Usually a single acquisition is accompanied by two firing units. Additionally truck based transloaders with additional missiles accompany the Shahine system.
Guidance
Targets are acquired by the Shahine acquisition unit, which can also be given data from the TSQ-73 command center through the Shahine data link. The R460 missiles use radar command guidance towards the targets. Up to two missiles can be launched against a single target at a time. Alternatively the missiles may be guided optically in high ECM environments.
Firepower
The R460 missile performs better than the Crotale and has a speed of up to Mach 2.8. The maximum range is 11.8 km targets can be engaged up 6 km altitude. The kill probability is given as 0.9 against a Mach 0.75 target and 0.99 for a two missile salvo. The lethal range of the HE-frag warhead is 8 meter.
Mobility
The tracked chassis allows the Shahine to keep up with armored units. It provides a good cross country mobility and reasonable road speed. A 620 hp diesel engine provides propulsion and an APU is fitted to provide power when the engine is not running.
Users
The Shahine was only acquired by Saudi Arabia. The first batch was of the Shahine 1 type and subsequent batches of the improved Shahine 2 model. The Shahine system remains in Saudi use and several maintenance projects have been carried out.
Shahine firing unit
The Shahine firing unit is the main unit of the Shahine system. The firing unit is based on the AMX-30 chassis and is easily identified by its large turret with three Shahine missiles on either side and large fire control radar in the middle.
- Specifications:
- AMX-30 Shahine firing unit
Type | Self-propelled SAM system |
---|---|
Crew | 2 (driver, operator) |
Length | 6.6 m |
Width | 3.1 m |
Height | 4 m |
Ground clearance | 0.44 m |
Weight | 38.8 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 0.83 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear |
Turn radius | pivot |
Engine | Diesel, 620 hp at 2.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 16.0 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 2 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h on road |
Fuel | ? |
Range | ? |
Wall | ? |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | ? |
Fording | 1.3 m |
Armor | Steel |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | 17 km range fire control radar |
Armament | R460 surface to air missile (6x) |
Weapon1 | R460 surface to air missile on turret sides 6 missiles, all ready to fire 360° traverse, powered non-stabilized |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Shahine acquisition unit
The Shahine acquisition unit is also based on the AMX-30 chassis and is fitted with a single large parabolic through Doppler E/F-band search and acquisition radar. The radar can be stowed when not in use.
- Specifications:
- AMX-30 Shahine acquisition unit
Type | Radar vehicle |
---|---|
Crew | ? |
Length | 6.6 m |
Width | 3.1 m |
Height | 4 m |
Ground clearance | 0.44 m |
Weight | 32.7 t combat load |
Ground pressure | 0.69 kg/cm2 |
Wheelbase | Tracked chassis, 5 roadwheels, idler front, drive sprocket rear |
Turn radius | pivot |
Engine | Diesel, 620 hp at 2.400 rpm |
Power ratio | 19.0 hp/t |
---|---|
Transmission | Manual, 5 forward, 2 reverse |
Speed | 60 km/h on road |
Fuel | ? |
Range | ? |
Wall | ? |
Trench | ? |
Gradient | ? |
Fording | 1.3 m |
Armor | Steel |
NBC equipment | Yes |
Night vision | Yes |
---|---|
Smoke | 2x2 smoke grenade dischargers |
Remarks | 19.5 km range and 6 km altitiude search radar |
Armament | - |
Weapon1 | - |
Weapon2 | - |
Weapon3 | - |
Weapon4 | - |
Weapon5 | - |
Weapon6 | - |
Shahine ATTS
The Shahine Air Transportable Towed Shelter /ATTS comes as either firing unit or acquisition unit. The actual launcher and radar turret are similar to the ones mounted on the AMX-30 chassis. The shelter can be split up in two parts for easier air transportation.
- Specifications:
- Shahine ATTS
Type | Towed SAM system |
---|---|
Crew | ? |
Ordnance | R460 missile (6x) |
Elevation | ? |
Traverse | 360°, powered |
Rate of fire | - |
---|---|
Range | - |
Carriage | 6 wheel carriage with four outriggers |
Weight | 20 t |
Length | ? |
Width | ? |
---|---|
Height | ? |
Towing vehicle | 6x6 truck |
Speed | ? |
Remarks | APU fitted for autonomous use |
R460 missile
The R460 missile is based on the Crotale missile but is heavier, has a longer range and higher speed. The R460 missile is only used with the Shahine system and cannot be launched by the Crotale. The missiles are fitted in a similar canister as the Crotale and are usually replaced three at a time in order to increase reload speed.
- Specifications:
- R460
Type | Surfrace to air missile |
---|---|
Diameter | 0.156 m body, 0.59 m wingspan |
Length | 3.12 m |
Weight | 100 kg |
Guidance | Radar command guidance |
---|---|
Warhead | 15 kg HE-frag, contact and proximity fuze |
Propulsion | Solid propellant rocket motor |
Speed | Mach 2.8 |
Range | 0.5 km minimum head on 2.0 km minimum crossing target 11.8 km maximum head on 8.0 km maximum crossing target |
---|---|
Altitude | 15 m minimum, 6.8 km maximum |
Engagement envelope | 35 g out to 6 km, 15 g out to 10 km, 8 g out to 14 km |
Remarks | - |