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Umkhonto missile
Umkhonto missile
Basic data
Function	short range surface-to-air missile
Manufacturer	Denel Aerospace Systems
Entered service	Test phase (as of 2005)
General characteristics
Engine
Launch mass	130 kg
Length	3.32 m
Diameter	180 mm
Wingspan	500 mm
Speed	800 m/s, roughly Mach 2.5
Range	12 km
Flying altitude	10 km
Warhead	23 kg
Guidance	all-aspect infra-red, command update fire and forget
Launch platform	8-cell (naval version) or 4-cell truck mounted land version

This article is about the missile system. For other uses, see Umkhonto (disambiguation)

Umkhonto (Zulu: spear) is an South African VLS surface-to-air missile manufactured by Denel Aerospace Systems (formerly known as Kentron) that come in an infrared homing and radar homing version.

Contents 1 Overview 2 Umkhonto-R 3 Users 3.1 Finland 3.2 South Africa 3.3 Sweden 3.4 Others 4 See also 5 External links

Designed for all-round defence against simultaneous air attacks from multiple targets, the Umkhonto-IR missile is the first vertically launched infrared-homing surface-to-air missile, also the first IR-homing missile to use lock-on-after-launch. Upon launch, the missile flies to a lock-on point, following on-board inertial navigation. The missile then activates its two-colour IR-seeker (variant of U-Darter AAM's seeker) and locks on. Target updates are received via data link, enabling the missile to counter evading manoeuvres by the target(s). Umkhonto has a set of tail-mounted, aerodynamic control fins, as well as thrust vectoring vanes in the motor nozzle (similar to Denel's A-Darter AAM), allowing for 40 g manoeuvres. The system's 3-D fire control radar enable simultaneous engagement of eight targets for the naval version. The missile uses a low-smoke propellant to avoid detection. In July 2005 it was successfully tested in various scenarios against Denel-made Skua drones.

An extended range version (Umkhonto-NG) is rumoured to be in development. It will feature a rocket booster and a RF seeker head.

The radar-homing version differs in that it has an extended range (25 km, Umkhonto-IR 12 km) and higher operational altitude (12 km, Umkhonto-IR 10 km), it is also 65 kg heavier and 98 cm longer than the Umkhonto-IR version.

Umkhonto-IR was ordered by the Finnish Navy to arm its four Hamina class missile boats in 2002 and its two Hämeenmaa class minelayers by 2006.

The South African Navy has selected the system for its four Meko A-200 frigates. The South African Army has the Umkhonto in land based service, where one missile battery is composed of four launch units, one 3-D radar unit and one command unit.

Has selected the Umkhonto as the air defence missile for use in the new Visby class stealth corvette.

In 2004 Brazil expressed an interest in acquiring the missile system for its aircraft carrier São Paolo.

• Denel Aerospace Systems, the manufacturer
• Hamina class missile boat, Finnish Navy vessel armed with Umkhonto.

• Manufacturer's website
• Post regarding missile flight trials in November 2005