AS-20
| AS-20 | |
|---|---|
MCLOS via radio link |
The AS-20 (Type 5110) was a French air-to-surface missile developed during the late 1950s. It was similar to the U.S. AGM-12 Bullpup missile.
Development
The AS-20 was based on an earlier
AA.20 (designated Type 5103). Only minor changes were required to make it an air-to-surface missile, the size of the warhead was increased as a result of replacing the large proximity fuze
with a simple impact fuze.
Design
The AS-20 had four steeply swept-back fins, cruciform in
MCLOS guidance with the pilot aligning the flares on the missile's rear with the target and controlling the missile in flight after launch with a small joystick sending steering commands to the missile via a radio link. The steering commands steer the missile back to the line-of-sight by thrust vectoring
by the movement of one of four metal vanes around the center sustainer nozzle. The missile's internal gyro gives the missile command unit, the correct position of the missile in flight, and to which of the four thrust vanes to actuate at the correct time.
Operational history
Approximately 8,000 of the missiles were built, with the missile entering service in 1961. The AS-20 was one of the primary weapons of the
AS-30
.
Operators
