33:
323:), allowing the pilot to track a target beyond the aircraft's radar scan envelope using the missile's high off-boresight capability, achieved by the pilot turning his head towards the target to lock-on, better known as "look and shoot". The missile can then be launched and can immediately pull extreme
305:
Production of the missiles has been delayed. Testing was finalised in
November 2019. Due to liquidity problems affecting Denel and the resignation of key personnel, no combat capable missiles had been produced as of November 2022. As of this date only eight practice missiles had been delivered to the
327:
to reverse its course to engage a target behind the aircraft, sometimes called an "over-the-shoulder". Engage modes include Lock-On After Launch (LOAL) capability to engage targets outside its seeker's acquisition range, and Lock-On Before Launch (LOBL) capability where the target is identified and
310:
has assessed that Denel no longer has the expertise needed to sign off on the missiles meeting necessary standards. Armscor was developing a plan for elements of the missiles to be produced and signed off by other companies, with Denel handling the final assembly. The SAAF had not approved this,
260:
joined the program in 2006 after a three-year negotiation process with US$ 52 million invested by the
Brazilian Government in the project, estimated to be worth US$ 130 million. In that same year, Denel announced that it would use the latest solid-state
335:
The A-Darter has four major sections: guidance section, warhead, control, and rocket motor. It uses a streamlined design with low aerodynamic drag in a wingless airframe, ensuring ranges beyond those of traditional short-range missiles. It is fitted with a
485:
890:
805:
347:
The absence of aluminium powder in the motor propellent inhibits production of a smoke trail, which means no visual warning for enemy aircraft. According to SAAF fighter pilots involved within the project, the A-Darter it is better than the
631:
947:
481:
886:
276:
to begin the integration of the missile to the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. Captive flight trials were concluded in March 2010. The first successful in-flight launch from a Gripen fighter took place on 17 June 2010.
801:
864:
627:
943:
776:
737:
269:, for mid course range guidance. The Brazilian company Opto Eletrônica has partnered with Denel Dynamics in the development of the missile imaging infrared seeker for thermal guidance.
294:
In
February 2015, Denel Dynamics signed an agreement with Marotta Controls for supply of the latter's MPACT pure air compression technology to cool the A-Darter's infrared seeker.
302:
In March 2015 SAAF ordered 41 operational missiles, 21 trainer variants and 8 practice variants from Denel
Dynamics. At this time deliveries were to be completed by October 2017.
280:
In March 2012, Denel
Dynamics disclosed that the missile, which was to be ready for production by end of 2013, entered the qualification phase. Several testing firings at Denel's
579:
661:
1544:
1524:
284:
were carried out from a Gripen in
January 2012. Final testing included the use of high-speed target drones to simulate an aircraft by towing infrared targets at high speed.
1092:
860:
272:
Ground seeker tests were concluded in
January 2010, while trajectory guidance and agility flight tests were performed in February 2010. Prototypes were sent to
1534:
456:
256:
Development of the A-Darter began in 1995, but the program suffered from inadequate funding and changes to the SAAF's requirements. Mectron, Avibras and
1037:
834:
772:
744:
1529:
1066:
575:
204:, featuring countermeasures resistance with a 180-degree look angle and 120-degrees per second track rate, developed by South Africa's
329:
328:
designated before launch. The two colour thermal imaging technology and a laser proximity fuse fitted on the missile provide multiple
657:
985:
516:
248:. It was expected to be in production before the end of 2015. As of November 2022, no combat capable missiles had been produced.
539:
1193:
601:
1156:
1114:
1001:
1088:
1339:
344:
and for a period of 8 seconds while the motor burns, after which the missile can still retain 50g of manoverability.
332:(ECCM) techniques with targeting algorithms including advanced spatial filtering techniques and velocity profiling.
1482:
1503:
918:
262:
1151:
288:
1467:
426:
452:
1349:
1249:
1030:
221:
1477:
320:
307:
1299:
1244:
830:
237:
1254:
1186:
1062:
281:
233:
1487:
1462:
1284:
1279:
1274:
245:
225:
201:
46:
1472:
981:
719:
692:
512:
1379:
970:
402:
366:
337:
229:
547:
540:"Tecnologia – Diretor-Geral do DCTA acompanha o Projeto A-Darter (míssil) na África do Sul"
257:
217:
197:
184:
170:
1118:
1539:
1457:
1452:
1229:
1179:
710:
Dorschner, Jim; Resende, Pedro (15 March 2006). "Briefing: South
American Air Forces".
414:
205:
69:
1518:
1424:
1219:
1419:
1409:
1394:
1384:
605:
287:
In
December 2012, the Brazilian air force commissioned Denel to build a factory in
241:
1399:
1344:
1329:
1324:
1319:
1005:
266:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1234:
861:"Brazilian air force commissions factory for A-Darter missile, confirms specs"
723:
696:
1434:
1289:
738:"BAE Systems Inertial Measurement Unit Selected for New Air-to-Air Missile"
1309:
341:
324:
273:
213:
1269:
1264:
683:
Hewson, Rob (10 August 2005). "Briefing: South Africa and partners".
390:
378:
349:
32:
1202:
1144:
209:
73:
319:
The missile seeker can be slaved to the Helmet
Mounted Display (
1175:
1165:
576:"Denel Dynamics completes A-Darter integration on Gripen"
340:
control (TVC) system that allows for turning at up to 100
1171:
628:"A-Darter heading up strong Denel exhibit at IDEX 2015"
1031:"A-DARTER: Fifth-generation Air-to-air Missile System"
773:"South Africa, Brazil ready for A-Darter missile test"
912:
910:
908:
887:"US company supplying cooling component on A-Darter"
1496:
1445:
1209:
691:(32). Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group: 26–27.
482:"A-Darter contract moves missile programme forward"
431:
419:
407:
395:
383:
371:
176:
161:
149:
141:
124:
116:
108:
100:
92:
87:
79:
65:
60:
52:
42:
23:
1168:(acquire Opto Eletronica Espaco e Defesa division)
291:, close to Mectron, Avibras and Opto Eletrônica.
1089:"South Africa, Brazil to Develop A-Darter SRAAM"
802:"A-Darter successfully launched off SAAF Gripen"
743:. BAE Systems. 25 September 2006. Archived from
718:(11). Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group: 25.
658:"Target date for missile service entry revealed"
604:. ZA: Air Force. 30 October 2007. Archived from
980:. Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press (published 2011).
1187:
1091:. Defense Industry Daily. 21 September 2010.
796:
794:
476:
474:
208:(formerly Kentron) and Brazil's Mectron (now
8:
1025:
1023:
1545:Military equipment introduced in the 2010s
1194:
1180:
1172:
1152:Manufacturer's official brochure, A-Darter
831:"A-Darter January flight tests successful"
825:
823:
767:
765:
453:"Denel launches A-Darter SRAAM production"
20:
919:"SAAF still waiting on A-Darter missiles"
854:
852:
569:
567:
565:
484:. Defence Web. Reuters. 13 April 2015.
444:
196:(Agile Darter) is a modern short-range
651:
649:
634:from the original on 23 September 2015
574:Heitman, Helmoed-Römer (7 June 2011).
1525:Post–Cold War weapons of South Africa
950:from the original on 23 February 2017
893:from the original on 11 February 2015
889:. DefenceWeb.co.za. 9 February 2015.
867:from the original on 31 December 2012
859:Trimble, Stephen (14 December 2012).
837:from the original on 22 February 2014
534:
532:
530:
528:
459:from the original on 18 November 2015
7:
1095:from the original on 4 February 2012
1004:. Segurança e defesa. Archived from
582:from the original on 20 October 2012
455:. IHS Jane's 360. 16 November 2015.
1535:Air-to-air missiles of South Africa
511:. Surrey, UK: Jane's. p. 810.
1069:from the original on 2 August 2012
969:Melzer, James (31 December 1998).
664:from the original on 24 March 2010
509:All the World's Aircraft 2004–2005
488:from the original on 16 April 2015
330:Electronic counter-countermeasures
14:
1145:Denel Dynamics – official website
1043:from the original on 23 July 2012
946:. DefenceWeb. 22 September 2011.
808:from the original on 2 March 2012
779:from the original on 10 July 2010
216:and Opto Eletrônica (acquired by
630:. Defence Web. 6 February 2015.
31:
944:"Cobra helmets for SAAF Gripen"
917:Martin, Guy (2 November 2022).
656:Campbell, Keith (19 May 2006).
1159:(Brazilian partner's website)
396:Germany, Italy, Sweden, Greece
1:
1530:Air-to-air missiles of Brazil
1483:Integrated Systems Solutions
833:. DefenceWeb. 7 March 2012.
804:. DefenceWeb. 21 July 2010.
1340:Denel 35mm Dual Purpose Gun
1306:Armoured fighting vehicles
1296:Precision-guided munitions
507:Jackson, Paul, ed. (2004).
120:0.488 metres (19.2 in)
1561:
976:. In Spitzer, Cary (ed.).
971:"5: Head-Mounted Displays"
157:22 kilometres (14 mi)
112:0.166 metres (6.5 in)
96:89 kilograms (196 lb)
1504:Denel Overberg Test Range
1468:Denel Personnel Solutions
1241:Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
1117:. Mectron. Archived from
1115:"Armamentos Inteligentes"
263:inertial measurement unit
136:
104:2.98 metres (117 in)
56:South Africa & Brazil
53:Place of origin
30:
863:. Flight International.
427:AAM-5 (Japanese missile)
775:. Flight Global. 2010.
222:South African Air Force
226:Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D
978:The Avionics Handbook
712:Jane's Defence Weekly
685:Jane's Defence Weekly
546:. FAB. Archived from
220:). It will equip the
1478:Denel Aerostructures
1336:Medium calibre guns
1216:Fixed-wing aircraft
660:. Engineering News.
132:laser proximity fuse
1121:on 31 December 2012
550:on 28 November 2012
289:São José dos Campos
282:Overberg Test Range
265:, the SiIMU02 from
234:Brazilian Air Force
1463:Denel Land Systems
1431:Anti-tank rockets
1416:Grenade launchers
1036:. Denel Dynamics.
750:on 13 October 2006
352:in some respects.
202:air-to-air missile
61:Production history
47:Air-to-air missile
18:Air-to-air missile
1512:
1511:
1446:Business entities
1350:GI-2 20 mm cannon
1345:GA-1 20 mm cannon
200:("heat seeking")
190:
189:
145:Solid fuel rocket
1552:
1196:
1189:
1182:
1173:
1162:
1148:
1147:
1131:
1130:
1128:
1126:
1111:
1105:
1104:
1102:
1100:
1085:
1079:
1078:
1076:
1074:
1059:
1053:
1052:
1050:
1048:
1042:
1035:
1027:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1013:
998:
992:
991:
975:
966:
960:
959:
957:
955:
940:
934:
933:
931:
929:
914:
903:
902:
900:
898:
883:
877:
876:
874:
872:
856:
847:
846:
844:
842:
827:
818:
817:
815:
813:
798:
789:
788:
786:
784:
769:
760:
759:
757:
755:
749:
742:
734:
728:
727:
707:
701:
700:
680:
674:
673:
671:
669:
653:
644:
643:
641:
639:
624:
618:
617:
615:
613:
598:
592:
591:
589:
587:
578:. SA air force.
571:
560:
559:
557:
555:
536:
523:
522:
504:
498:
497:
495:
493:
478:
469:
468:
466:
464:
449:
435:
433:
423:
421:
411:
409:
399:
397:
387:
385:
375:
373:
361:Similar missiles
338:thrust vectoring
171:Infra-red homing
37:A-Darter missile
35:
26:
21:
1560:
1559:
1555:
1554:
1553:
1551:
1550:
1549:
1515:
1514:
1513:
1508:
1492:
1441:
1376:Assault rifles
1205:
1200:
1161:(in Portuguese)
1160:
1143:
1142:
1139:
1134:
1124:
1122:
1113:
1112:
1108:
1098:
1096:
1087:
1086:
1082:
1072:
1070:
1065:. SA airforce.
1061:
1060:
1056:
1046:
1044:
1040:
1033:
1029:
1028:
1021:
1011:
1009:
1008:on 29 July 2012
1000:
999:
995:
988:
973:
968:
967:
963:
953:
951:
942:
941:
937:
927:
925:
916:
915:
906:
896:
894:
885:
884:
880:
870:
868:
858:
857:
850:
840:
838:
829:
828:
821:
811:
809:
800:
799:
792:
782:
780:
771:
770:
763:
753:
751:
747:
740:
736:
735:
731:
709:
708:
704:
682:
681:
677:
667:
665:
655:
654:
647:
637:
635:
626:
625:
621:
611:
609:
602:"CAF interview"
600:
599:
595:
585:
583:
573:
572:
563:
553:
551:
538:
537:
526:
519:
506:
505:
501:
491:
489:
480:
479:
472:
462:
460:
451:
450:
446:
442:
429:
417:
405:
393:
381:
369:
358:
317:
300:
254:
198:infrared homing
185:Combat aircraft
181:
179:
166:
164:
154:
152:
137:
129:
127:
72:
38:
24:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1558:
1556:
1548:
1547:
1542:
1537:
1532:
1527:
1517:
1516:
1510:
1509:
1507:
1506:
1500:
1498:
1494:
1493:
1491:
1490:
1485:
1480:
1475:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1458:Denel Dynamics
1455:
1453:Denel Aviation
1449:
1447:
1443:
1442:
1440:
1439:
1438:
1437:
1429:
1428:
1427:
1422:
1414:
1413:
1412:
1406:Sniper rifles
1404:
1403:
1402:
1397:
1389:
1388:
1387:
1382:
1374:
1373:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1354:
1353:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1334:
1333:
1332:
1327:
1322:
1314:
1313:
1312:
1304:
1303:
1302:
1294:
1293:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1259:
1258:
1257:
1252:
1247:
1239:
1238:
1237:
1232:
1224:
1223:
1222:
1213:
1211:
1207:
1206:
1201:
1199:
1198:
1191:
1184:
1176:
1170:
1169:
1163:
1154:
1149:
1138:
1137:External links
1135:
1133:
1132:
1106:
1080:
1063:"V3E A-Darter"
1054:
1019:
993:
986:
961:
935:
904:
878:
848:
819:
790:
761:
729:
702:
675:
645:
619:
593:
561:
524:
517:
499:
470:
443:
441:
438:
437:
436:
424:
412:
400:
388:
384:United Kingdom
376:
363:
362:
357:
354:
316:
313:
299:
296:
253:
250:
242:Northrop F-5BR
206:Denel Dynamics
188:
187:
182:
177:
174:
173:
167:
162:
159:
158:
155:
150:
147:
146:
143:
139:
138:
134:
133:
130:
125:
122:
121:
118:
114:
113:
110:
106:
105:
102:
98:
97:
94:
90:
89:
88:Specifications
85:
84:
81:
77:
76:
70:Denel Dynamics
67:
63:
62:
58:
57:
54:
50:
49:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1557:
1546:
1543:
1541:
1538:
1536:
1533:
1531:
1528:
1526:
1523:
1522:
1520:
1505:
1502:
1501:
1499:
1495:
1489:
1486:
1484:
1481:
1479:
1476:
1474:
1471:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1450:
1448:
1444:
1436:
1433:
1432:
1430:
1426:
1423:
1421:
1418:
1417:
1415:
1411:
1408:
1407:
1405:
1401:
1398:
1396:
1393:
1392:
1391:Machine guns
1390:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1377:
1375:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1357:
1355:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1337:
1335:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1317:
1315:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1305:
1301:
1298:
1297:
1295:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1262:
1260:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1242:
1240:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1227:
1225:
1221:
1218:
1217:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1208:
1204:
1197:
1192:
1190:
1185:
1183:
1178:
1177:
1174:
1167:
1164:
1158:
1155:
1153:
1150:
1146:
1141:
1140:
1136:
1120:
1116:
1110:
1107:
1094:
1090:
1084:
1081:
1068:
1064:
1058:
1055:
1039:
1032:
1026:
1024:
1020:
1007:
1003:
997:
994:
989:
987:0-8493-8348-X
983:
979:
972:
965:
962:
949:
945:
939:
936:
924:
920:
913:
911:
909:
905:
892:
888:
882:
879:
866:
862:
855:
853:
849:
836:
832:
826:
824:
820:
807:
803:
797:
795:
791:
778:
774:
768:
766:
762:
746:
739:
733:
730:
725:
721:
717:
713:
706:
703:
698:
694:
690:
686:
679:
676:
663:
659:
652:
650:
646:
633:
629:
623:
620:
608:on 7 May 2012
607:
603:
597:
594:
581:
577:
570:
568:
566:
562:
549:
545:
541:
535:
533:
531:
529:
525:
520:
518:0-7106-2614-2
514:
510:
503:
500:
487:
483:
477:
475:
471:
458:
454:
448:
445:
439:
428:
425:
416:
413:
404:
401:
392:
389:
380:
377:
372:United States
368:
365:
364:
360:
359:
355:
353:
351:
345:
343:
339:
333:
331:
326:
322:
314:
312:
309:
303:
297:
295:
292:
290:
285:
283:
278:
275:
270:
268:
264:
259:
251:
249:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
186:
183:
175:
172:
168:
160:
156:
148:
144:
140:
135:
131:
123:
119:
115:
111:
107:
103:
99:
95:
91:
86:
82:
78:
75:
71:
68:
64:
59:
55:
51:
48:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
16:
1488:Denel Mechem
1226:Helicopters
1123:. Retrieved
1119:the original
1109:
1097:. Retrieved
1083:
1071:. Retrieved
1057:
1045:. Retrieved
1010:. Retrieved
1006:the original
996:
977:
964:
954:25 September
952:. Retrieved
938:
926:. Retrieved
922:
895:. Retrieved
881:
869:. Retrieved
839:. Retrieved
810:. Retrieved
781:. Retrieved
752:. Retrieved
745:the original
732:
715:
711:
705:
688:
684:
678:
668:18 September
666:. Retrieved
636:. Retrieved
622:
610:. Retrieved
606:the original
596:
584:. Retrieved
552:. Retrieved
548:the original
543:
508:
502:
490:. Retrieved
461:. Retrieved
447:
420:Soviet Union
346:
334:
318:
304:
301:
293:
286:
279:
271:
255:
230:BAE Hawk 120
193:
191:
169:dual-colour
66:Manufacturer
15:
1425:Inkunzi PAW
1330:G7 howitzer
1325:G6 howitzer
1320:G5 howitzer
897:11 February
871:31 December
463:17 November
415:Vympel R-73
267:BAE Systems
252:Development
151:Operational
1519:Categories
1497:Facilities
1316:Artillery
1002:"A-Darter"
923:defenceWeb
440:References
298:Production
246:Gripen E/F
232:, and the
126:Detonation
83:since 2015
1473:Denel PMP
1290:ZT3 Ingwe
1261:Missiles
1125:22 August
1099:22 August
1073:22 August
1047:22 August
1012:22 August
841:22 August
812:22 August
724:0265-3818
697:0265-3818
638:20 August
612:22 August
586:22 August
554:22 August
544:Cecomsaer
430:– (
418:– (
406:– (
394:– (
382:– (
370:– (
311:however.
128:mechanism
25:A-Darter
1356:Pistols
1285:Umkhonto
1280:R-Darter
1275:A-Darter
1250:Bateleur
1230:Rooivalk
1210:Products
1093:Archived
1067:Archived
1038:Archived
948:Archived
891:Archived
865:Archived
835:Archived
806:Archived
777:Archived
662:Archived
632:Archived
580:Archived
492:16 April
486:Archived
457:Archived
403:Python 5
356:See also
238:A-1M AMX
194:A-Darter
192:The V3E
180:platform
163:Guidance
117:Wingspan
109:Diameter
80:Produced
1310:Rooikat
1220:Cheetah
1157:Mectron
783:18 July
754:6 March
325:g-force
308:Armscor
274:Saab AB
214:Avibras
1420:Y3 AGL
1410:NTW-20
1300:Umbani
1270:Mokopa
1265:MUPSOW
1245:Seeker
984:
928:6 June
722:
695:
515:
408:Israel
391:IRIS-T
379:ASRAAM
367:AIM-9X
350:IRIS-T
315:Design
306:SAAF.
178:Launch
165:system
142:Engine
101:Length
1540:Denel
1400:DMG-5
1395:SS-77
1385:CR-21
1380:R4/R5
1203:Denel
1166:AKAER
1041:(PDF)
1034:(PDF)
974:(PDF)
748:(PDF)
741:(PDF)
432:Japan
258:Atech
218:AKAER
210:SIATT
153:range
74:SIATT
1255:Skua
1235:Oryx
1127:2012
1101:2012
1075:2012
1049:2012
1014:2012
982:ISBN
956:2012
930:2023
899:2015
873:2012
843:2012
814:2012
785:2010
756:2007
720:ISSN
693:ISSN
670:2012
640:2015
614:2012
588:2012
556:2012
513:ISBN
494:2015
465:2015
244:and
228:and
93:Mass
43:Type
1435:FT5
1370:Z88
1365:SP1
1360:CP1
321:HMD
236:'s
224:'s
212:),
1521::
1022:^
921:.
907:^
851:^
822:^
793:^
764:^
716:43
714:.
689:42
687:.
648:^
564:^
542:.
527:^
473:^
240:,
1195:e
1188:t
1181:v
1129:.
1103:.
1077:.
1051:.
1016:.
990:.
958:.
932:.
901:.
875:.
845:.
816:.
787:.
758:.
726:.
699:.
672:.
642:.
616:.
590:.
558:.
521:.
496:.
467:.
434:)
422:)
410:)
398:)
386:)
374:)
342:g
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
