Tactical and technical data of the Roland air defense system. Creation of a short-range air defense system in the United States. Deliveries of the "roland" complex by type of armed forces

Short description

Anti-aircraft missile system "Roland I" and its
rocket:

a - the layout of the combat means of the air defense system and the crew:
1 - driver; 2 - commander of the air defense system; 3 - gunner;

b-layout diagram of missiles:
1 - percussion fuse; 2-proximity optical fuse; 3, 10 - front and rear fixed aerodynamic surfaces, respectively; 4 - radio fuse; 5-receiver guidance commands; 6-autopilot; 7 - warhead; 8 - safety-actuating mechanism; 9 - main engine; 11-start engine; 12-gas outlet pipe of the propulsion engine

The Roland self-propelled air defense system, developed since 1961 jointly by France and Germany, was first created as an all-weather, semi-automatic air defense system (Roland I air defense system). Due to additional equipment (which increased the cost of the complex by 40%), an all-weather-non-all-weather, automatic-semi-automatic version of Roland II is being developed.

Both modifications of the air defense system were tested in 1971, their delivery to the troops is planned in 1974-1975 rr.

Work is underway (the completion date is scheduled for 1974) to place the Roland II complex on ships of various displacements. This modification of the air defense system is called "Roland IIM".

The Roland air defense system is designed to fire at targets flying at speeds up to 440 m/s in the altitude range from 0.015 to 3 km at ranges from 0.5 to 6 km. The estimated probability of hitting a target flying at a speed of 300 m/s with one missile is at least 0.5 with a direct hit probability of 0.16-0.25.

The combat assets of the Roland I (Fig. 46, a) and Roland II complexes are located in the self-propelled hull, as well as inside and on the rotating turret.

Their detection and target designation systems are the same and include: radar detection, moving target selection, identification and target designation.

Pulse-Doppler detection radar has a range of 15 km. Its antenna rotates independently of the self-propelled tower at a speed of 60 rpm. On the march, the antenna can be fixed in a marching way. Target detection time no more than 4 sec.

Target designation means located in the non-rotating part of the self-propelled gun include a fire control calculator and a control panel serviced by the air defense system commander.

The control panel has an all-round indicator screen with a printed scale, which displays the air situation, which will allow the Commander to select a target for firing. The formation, location and movement of target display icons on the screen is provided by a fire control computer that receives information about the air situation from the detection radar.

The commander selects a target for firing by aligning the marker with its mark on the indicator screen. This leads to an automatic turn of the tower in a direction that allows the SAM controls to start working.

To unload the commander (you do not need to watch the screen all the time), there is an audible alarm - when a target appears, an alarm sounds. The removal or approach of the target is fixed by the signal tone.

The SAM controls, mounted mainly in the turret, include: a target tracking and SAM radar (in the Roland II air defense system), a binocular optical sight, an infrared direction finder (goniometer), a calculating device for generating guidance commands and a station for transmitting radio commands to the SAM (all in both modifications of the air defense system).

The automatic target tracking radar and missiles are used to ensure all-weather firing of the complex. Its antenna is located under the detection radar antenna. Accompanying missiles is facilitated by the transponder (radio beacon) placed on board.

The optical sight is used in non-weather shooting for manual target tracking. It has two degrees of magnification: six- and twelve-fold. Human simulations have shown that the sight can provide manual tracking of a fast-moving target with an RMS error of 2-3 m.

An infrared direction finder, mounted in the sight and coaxial with it, is used for inclement weather shooting. It serves to measure the angular mismatch between the flying SAM and the optical axis of the sight, directed by the operator to the target. To do this, the direction finder automatically accompanies the missile tracer, transmitting the results to the guidance computer.

According to information from the target tracking radar and missiles (for all-weather firing) or from the sight and direction finder (for all-weather firing), the calculating device generates commands for aiming missiles using the “target cover” method.

These commands are transmitted through the antenna of the radio command transmission station at a frequency above 11,500 MHz to the SAM.

Launcher of both modifications of the Roland air defense system with variable launch angles for two missiles in transport and launch containers. It is mounted on independent horizontal axes on the sides of the tower in the form of two container support beams. Guidance of the holding beams with containers in the elevation plane is carried out automatically coaxially with the target tracking line, in the azimuthal plane - by turning the tower.

The automatic loading of the launcher is carried out within 10 seconds at the command of the commander by capturing the next container from the magazine with the holding beam (which first drops the empty container). These operations can be carried out independently by the holding beams.

There are two shops in the complex. They are located on the sides in the self-propelled body. Each contains four containers with missiles, hydraulically providing them with vertical movement for the next loading.

SAM "Roland" is the same for both modifications of the complex. It is a supersonic, single-stage, X-wing, has gas-dynamic control, is equipped with a launch (with a fixed body) and a sustainer solid propellant rocket engine. Its flight to the maximum range and altitude occurs with the engine running (active flight).

The weight of the SAM in a cylindrical fiberglass container is 85 kg (it is carried by two people). The launch weight of the rocket is 64 kg, the length is 2.4 m, the body diameter is 0.16 m, the span of the tail surfaces in flight is 0.5 m.

Fixed aerodynamic surfaces are opened in flight by springs. The tail surfaces are reinforced at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the missile, which ensures its rotation at a speed of 5 rpm.

The missile warhead weighs about 5.8 kg. It is a design with radially arranged shaped charges and is equipped with three types of fuses: impact and two non-contact - infrared and radio fuses (the latter for all-weather firing). Non-contact fuses from the surface of the earth (water) are provided for when firing at targets flying at extremely low altitudes.

The on-board receiver of radio commands is made on transistors. Its antennas are mounted at the rear of the tail airfoils.

The starting solid propellant rocket motor with a non-separable body has two nozzles. Its fuel (13.2 kgf) is placed around the exhaust pipe of the propulsion engine. Within 2 seconds, it accelerates the missile to a speed of about 580 m / s.

A marching solid propellant rocket engine (fuel weight 13.7 kgf, operating time about 10 seconds) has one nozzle. The deviation of the jet of gases flowing from this nozzle provides gas-dynamic flight control of the SAM.

In 1967, it was reported that in the FRG, for missiles of this type, work was underway on a liquid-propellant rocket engine with ampoule refueling.

A missile placed in a sealed transport and launch container does not require inspections and checks.

The combat crew of the Roland self-propelled air defense system consists of three people: a driver, a commander and a gunner.

To check the combat means of the complex (except for missiles), test equipment is used, which detects malfunctions within 10 seconds.

The scheme of the sequence of work and interaction of combat means of the Roland air defense system is as follows.

The detection radar provides a circular view of the space when the complex is in place or in motion.

With a sound signal about the appearance of a target (targets) in the detection radar coverage area, the ADMC commander begins monitoring the marks on the screen of the all-round visibility indicator. By turning on the interrogator, it identifies targets, selects one of them for firing, aligning the marker with its mark on the screen. For more accurate shooting, it gives a command for a short stop, although shooting is also possible on the move.

When firing in all weather complexes "Roland" (I and II), the gunner, manipulating the handle, searches for the target, mainly in the elevation plane, while using a smaller magnification of the sight (search time 4 seconds). The target is “captured” in the sight, and the gunner conducts its manual tracking until the missile meets it, gradually changing the magnification of the sight to the maximum.

With all-weather firing of the Roland II complex, the described operations are performed automatically by the target tracking radar and missiles.

As soon as the commander sees on the screen that the target has entered the launch zone, he launches the missile defense system, while he continues to monitor the marks from other targets, the position information of which is updated every second (with each turn of the detection radar antenna). This saves time for the shelling of the next target.

The working time of the complex (from the alarm signal to the launch of the missile defense system) during the shelling of the first target is 8-12 seconds.

The processes of preparation for launch and launch of missiles, which take about 1 second, are automated. 2 seconds after the rocket takes off from the container, its aerodynamic surfaces are revealed and the sustainer solid propellant rocket engine starts to work, providing the possibility of gas-dynamic flight control of the missile defense system.

During inclement weather shooting, the infrared direction finder automatically accompanies the SAM tracer until it meets the target. This ensures the development of guidance commands in the SRP, which are transmitted by the command transmission station to the SAM, where they are implemented.

During all-weather firing, the direction finder function is also automatically performed by the target tracking radar and missiles.

If the warhead of the rocket did not blow up at the target, the missile defense system will automatically self-destruct as soon as the fuel of the sustainer solid propellant rocket burns out. Self-liquidation can be carried out even earlier by a special radio command from the ground.

The ship version of the Roland IIM complex differs little from the self-propelled Roland II. It used other designs of stores (drum and mine with a lift), and their capacity was increased to eight containers; the design of the container was changed (thermal insulation and protection of missiles from radioactive radiation were provided); slightly changed launcher.

On the ship, the Roland IIM air defense system is mounted in a tower (weight with a magazine is 8720 kg), serviced by two crew numbers. It is intended for both standalone
combat use (mainly), and for use in conjunction with other weapons of the ship on commands from the central fire control point.

The Roland anti-aircraft missile system was developed jointly by specialists from France and Germany to combat enemy air assets at a distance of up to 6 km at a flight altitude of 3 km. The base chassis for the launchers of the complex was the French battle tank AMX-30. In a single node on the launcher there are: air target detection radar (range 15-18 km), target tracking radar (only available in the Roland-2 air defense system, its range is adequate to the range of the above-mentioned station), optical sight, guidance system computer , two automatically controlled guides, on which one rocket is placed. Inside the installation are two drums (each with four missiles), a source of electricity, a launch control panel and control equipment. The combat weight of the installation is about 33 tons, the crew is three people (gunner-operator, commander-operator and driver), there is protection from electromagnetic and infrared radiation. Taking into account the time for reloading and preparing the launch of the next rocket, the rate of fire is 2 rds / min.

In the mid-80s, the air defense of France was armed with two types of anti-aircraft missile systems: the Roland-1 air defense system - for hitting air targets in good visibility conditions and the Roland-2 - all-weather (out of 180 air defense systems, 100 are all-weather).

The anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Roland air defense missile system is designed to provide air defense for formations and units of the first echelon of the army corps at ranges up to 6 km and altitudes up to 3 km. It can be used by the commander both in full force and by battery, depending on the task being solved. The French army corps has two types of such regiments - anti-aircraft missile and anti-aircraft missile and artillery.

The anti-aircraft missile regiment consists of a control and maintenance battery, four firing batteries. The regiment has 980 people, 32 Roland missile launchers, 32 VAB armored personnel carriers and 184 vehicles for various purposes.

Anti-aircraft missile and artillery regiment (SAM "Roland" and anti-aircraft artillery, Fig. 3) includes a battery of control and maintenance, three fire batteries of SAM and a battery of ZSU. The regiment has 24 Roland missile launchers, 12 30-mm self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, 24 VAB armored personnel carriers and 150 vehicles. The number of personnel of the regiment is 980 people (in both types of regiments it is planned to have two reserve missile launchers and two armored personnel carriers each).

The main combat unit of the regiments is the batteries of the Roland air defense system, consisting of two platoons (each with four launchers). The platoon provides air defense (cover) of a 100 km2 area and up to 12 km of the route. Platoon launchers usually operate at a distance of 3-4 km from one another. Each anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Roland air defense missile system, according to the Western press, is capable of providing air cover for two first-echelon regiments conducting offensive or defensive operations.

Information sources

A.Tolin "ARTILLERY ANTI-AIRCAST GUNS". Foreign military review No. 1, 1985


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Anti-aircraft missile system Roland (France, Germany)

"Roland" - German-French anti-aircraft missile system.

The air defense system was developed in the 60s of the last century by the German company Messerchmitt-Bolkow-Blohm together with the French company Aerospatiale-Matra for the armed forces of both countries. In 1977, mass production of the Roland-1 began.

The complex can be placed on various chassis, namely on the chassis of the French AMX-30 medium tank or on the chassis of the 6 × 6 ACMAT truck, as well as on the chassis of the German Marder infantry fighting vehicle or on the chassis of the 6 × 6, 8 × 8 MAN truck.

SAM Roland puts three people on alert - driver, commander, operator.
The complex has been repeatedly modernized and improved in order to increase combat capabilities, or to equip the complex with modern equipment. In 1981, Roland 2 was developed, in 1988 Roland 3 was released. Today, the last version of the family is in production - the Roland VT1 air defense system, which was developed in 1989. In total, more than 650 complexes of various modifications were produced.

The Roland VT1 air defense system is based on the Roland 1. The complex is equipped with beams for placing missiles, a detection radar antenna, a target and missile tracking radar antenna, optical and infrared tracking systems, and a command transmitter antenna. Also, the complex is equipped with transmitters and receivers for target detection radar and target and missile tracking radar, a computer, a control panel, two revolver-type stores with eight missiles in transport and launch containers, a radio station, instrumentation and power supply. Guidance of holding beams with containers in the elevation plane is carried out automatically along the target tracking line, in the azimuthal plane - by turning the tower.

The Roland VT1 air defense system is equipped with a 62.5 kg solid-propellant missile, which is placed in a pressurized transport and launch container (TLC) and does not require inspections and checks. The rocket is equipped with a SNPE Roubaix solid-fuel rocket launcher, which is capable of accelerating the rocket to a speed of 500 m/s.

The complex is equipped with an optical infrared sight, which allows the missile to be aimed at the target, while the deviations of the missile from the set course are entered into the calculating device, and the guidance commands are automatically transmitted to the missile by the command transmitter. The radar transmitter is made on a magnetron. It is also worth noting that the complex has a two-channel monopulse radar, which allows you to track and track targets. The complex is also equipped with Doppler filtering of reflected signals, which can significantly reduce the effects of reflections from local objects. A parabolic antenna is installed on the Roland VT1 complex, which is gyro-stabilized in azimuth and elevation and has a radiation pattern of 2 ° in azimuth and 1 ° in elevation. In the process of combat work, it is possible to quickly switch guidance modes, which significantly increases the noise immunity of the complex.

SAM Roland VT1 is in service with the army of Germany, France, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Qatar, Spain and others.

The Roland-2 all-weather self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system with a radar target tracking system and a missile was developed by Messerchmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (Germany) together with Aerospatiale-Matra (France) and is capable of destroying targets flying at speeds up to M=1.2 at altitudes from 15m to 5.5km and at ranges from 500m to 6.3km. Initially, the complex was created for the needs of the Bundeswehr, however, due to the clear advantage of the new complex over the previously released Roland-1 air defense system, the command of the French army decided to convert part of its Roland-1 complexes into the Roland-2 variant. This possibility was foreseen by the developers at the stage of creating the complex.

The complex was widely exported and in various versions is in service with the armies of France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Nigeria, Qatar, Spain and Venezuela. One of these options is the Roland-2C air defense system, developed by order of the Belgian Ministry of Defense, designed for air defense of stationary objects located in the theater of operations (airfields, bridges, warehouses, etc.). Unlike the Roland-2 air defense system, in which all equipment is located on one tracked chassis, the Roland-2c complex consists of a command post and a launcher located on the chassis of a Berliet (6X6) vehicle, which has a high cross-country ability. The use of this base allows for the rapid deployment of air defense systems over long distances on an equipped theater.

In 1975, the United States decided to develop an American version of the "Roland-2". Based on the results of comparative tests, he was given preference over the "Crotale" (France) and "Rapier" (Great Britain) air defense systems. However, having spent about $ 300 million on R&D, the program managers in 1981 were forced to abandon its continuation, referring to the difficulties in achieving a number of characteristics of the air defense system subsystems to American standards and the unacceptably high cost of manufacturing the complex in the USA. In 1983, 27 serial samples of air defense systems with 595 missiles produced by that time were transferred to equip one of the anti-aircraft divisions of the national guard, but already in 1988, due to the high cost of operation, they began to be replaced by the Chapparal air defense system.

Since the release of the first versions of the Roland air defense system, the complex has been repeatedly modernized in order to increase combat capabilities, transfer control equipment to a modern element base, etc. Currently, the last version of the Roland family is in production - the Roland-3 air defense system .

Compound

The Roland-2 air defense system can be placed on various chassis: in the French Armed Forces - the chassis of the AMX-30 medium tank, in the Bundeswehr - the chassis of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle (diagram), in the US National Guard - the chassis of the M-109 armored personnel carrier (later M812A1 ). The combat crew of the air defense system consists of three people: the driver, commander and operator.

The layout of the Roland-2 air defense system (see diagram), in general, is similar to the layout of the Roland-1 air defense system. On the unified rotating tower are installed: beams for placing missiles, a detection radar antenna, a target and missile tracking radar antenna, optical and infrared tracking systems and a command transmitter antenna. Inside the launcher housing are mounted transmitters and receivers for target detection radar and target and missile tracking radar, a calculating device, a control panel, two revolver-type magazines with eight missiles in transport and launch containers, a radio station, instrumentation and power supply. Guidance of holding beams with containers in the elevation plane is carried out automatically along the target tracking line, in the azimuthal plane - by turning the tower.

The Roland-2 air defense system differs from its prototype by the presence of a target tracking radar and a missile, which ensures the operation of the complex at any time of the day, regardless of weather conditions.

The Roland-2 air defense system fires the same missiles as the Roland-1 air defense system. The solid-propellant rocket has its own weight of 62.5 kg, the weight of the fragmentation-cumulative warhead is 6.5 kg, including 3.3 kg of explosive. In addition to the contact fuse, the warhead also has a radio fuse that provides triggering at a distance of up to 4 m from the target. The radius of expansion of 65 fragments is about 6m. The missile is in a sealed transport and launch container (TLC) and does not require inspections and checks. The weight of the equipped TPK is 85 kg, length - 2.6 m, diameter - 0.27 m. The duration of operation of the SNPE Roubaix solid-fuel rocket engine with a thrust of 1600 kg is 1.7 s, it accelerates the rocket to a speed of 500 m/s. The SNPE Lampyre type sustainer rocket engine has an operating time of 13.2 s. The maximum speed of the rocket is reached at the end of the engine. The minimum flight time required to put the missile on a trajectory is 2.2 s. The flight time to the maximum range is 13-15s.

The missile can be guided to the target using an optical infrared sight, while the deviations of the missile from the given course are entered into the calculating device, and the guidance commands are automatically transmitted to the missile by the command transmitter. It is also possible guidance using a two-channel monopulse target and missile tracking radar. The transmitter of this radar is assembled on a magnetron. To reduce the influence of reflections from local objects, the station uses Doppler filtering of the reflected signals. The parabolic antenna is gyro-stabilized in azimuth and elevation and has a radiation pattern of 2° in azimuth and 1° in elevation. The range resolution of the station is 0.6m. In the process of combat work, it is possible to quickly switch guidance modes, which significantly increases the noise immunity of the Roland-2 complex.

The tracking radar is mounted on the front side of the chassis, it is a two-channel monopulse Doppler station of the Thomson-CSF Domino 30 type. The target is tracked by one channel, and the microwave source (transmitter) on the rocket is captured for tracking by the second. After launch, the IR rangefinder, located on the tracking radar antenna, is used to capture the missile at ranges of 500-700 m, since the narrow beam of the tracking radar is only being formed at these ranges. Information about the deviation of the missile from the line of sight (antenna-target) is converted by the computing device into commands to deflect the missile's rudders in the same way as when operating in the optical mode.

In both modes, the initial automatic detection of targets occurs using a D-band Siemens MPDR-16 type pulse Doppler surveillance radar, the antenna of which rotates at a speed of 60 rpm. Surveillance radar also has the ability to detect hovering helicopters. When the target is detected, it is identified using the Siemens MSR-40015 interrogator (on a German chassis) or the LMT NRAI-6A type (French chassis), and then, at the command of the air defense system commander, it is captured for escort.

To check the combat means of the complex (except for missiles), test equipment is used, which detects malfunctions within 10 seconds.

The working time of the complex (from the alarm signal to the launch of the missile defense system) during the shelling of the first target is 8-12 seconds. The processes of preparation for launch and launch of missiles, which take about 1 second, are automated. Taking into account the time for reloading and preparing the launch of the next rocket, the rate of fire is 2 rds / min.

In Germany, anti-aircraft missile regiments of corps subordination are armed with Roland-2 anti-aircraft systems. Each regiment has six fire batteries with six launchers each. In the French army, anti-aircraft missile regiments of divisional and corps subordination are equipped with Roland-2 systems (the regiment has eight Roland-1 air defense systems and eight Roland-2 air defense systems). It is believed that each such regiment is capable of providing reliable air defense of an area up to 100 km2 or on a movement route up to 20 km long.

"Roland-2c" includes two vehicles - a command post and a launcher. The command post (see diagram) is equipped with a target detection radar, a friend-foe identification system, a computer system, an air situation display device and equipment for issuing target designation data to a launcher (PU). As a detection radar, an anti-jamming pulse-Doppler radar station of the French company "Thomson-CSF" is used. The station is capable of simultaneously detecting up to 30-40 air targets, analyzing the data necessary to assess the air situation, and issuing target designations to the launcher for 12 targets simultaneously. The equipment allows you to detect enemy air targets at a distance of 18 km. Range accuracy ±150 m, azimuth and elevation ±2°. Along with determining the coordinates of targets and the sequence of their shelling from the command post of the complex, monitoring of the state of the launcher is carried out. In addition, it determines with which launcher it is advisable to launch missiles, and the results of firing are also evaluated.

The electronic equipment of the "Roland-2c" air defense system complies with NATO standards. This allows the use of other types of radars at the command post of the complex, if it becomes necessary to involve several launchers for the defense of this object. For example, in the case of using stations developed by Siemens (Germany) or HLA (Netherlands) as a detection radar, the number of launchers controlled from one command post can be increased to eight. On the launcher, placed on the chassis of the car, a target tracking and missile guidance radar, a frame with four guides, on which transport and launch containers with missiles are mounted, are mounted. Inside the launcher there are two revolver-type stores with missiles, control equipment, test and launch equipment and a power supply system. Ammunition, located on one launcher, consists of 12 missiles (four missiles in transport and launch containers on the frame and eight missiles in stores). The reloading of the two inner guides is carried out automatically, and the two outer ones manually.

Before launching the SAM, the body of the PU with the help of four hydraulic jacks is hung out in a horizontal position with an accuracy of 0.5 °. Its alignment is automatic and lasts less than 1 minute. In addition, at the firing position, the bodies can be removed from the vehicles and camouflaged. When creating the Roland-2c air defense system, in principle, there was no need to place an air target detection radar on each launcher, as a result, the cost of the launcher decreased by about 10%. At the same time, from the point of view of increasing the noise immunity of the complex, its survivability in the event of a gearbox failure, it was considered expedient to keep the detection radar on the launcher (or on part of the launcher).

The organizational and staffing basis of the SAM units is a battery, including a command post and two or three launchers. When deployed on the ground, its battle formation is a triangle with sides up to 3 km with a command post in the center. According to the calculations of foreign experts, for example, during the defense of an airfield, a battery can repel a raid by up to 24 enemy aircraft and destroy about 50% of air targets in the process.

SAM "Roland-2c" airborne. It can be airlifted by C-130 and C-141 aircraft, as well as by heavy helicopters.

Tactical and technical characteristics

firing range,m
- minimum 500
- maximum 6200-6300
Target height,m
- minimum 15
- maximum 5500
Rocket "Roland"
starting weight, kg 66.5
Length, mm 2400
Wingspan, mm 500
Maximum case diameter, mm 160
Maximum flight speed, m/s 560
Launcher on chassis "Marder"
launcher weight, kg 32500
Crew, people 3
ground pressure, kg/cm2 0.93
Length, m 6.915
Width, m 3.24
Height in stowed position (antenna folded), m 2.92
Clearance, m 0.44
The maximum speed on the highway, km/h 70
Power reserve, km 520
The height of the obstacle to be overcome, m 1.5

Testing and operation

November 1986 Qatar's army placed an order for the production of three batteries with three complexes each. One battery used an AMX-30 type chassis, and the other two used a stationary type. Delivery and training of combat crews was completed in 1989.

Brazil received 4 Roland-2 complexes on the Marder chassis with 50 missiles.

In 1984, the Spanish Ministry of Defense chose the Roland-2 complex to equip its mobile batteries with low-altitude air defense, a contract was signed for the integration and joint production of this weapon system (9 Roland-1 and 9 Roland-2 complexes on the chassis AMX-30 MVT with 414 missiles).

In 1991 the Roland-2 complex was used by Iraq against coalition forces during Operation Desert Storm. By the beginning of 1991, the armed forces of Iraq had, according to various sources, from 40 to 100 Roland-2 complexes. Presumably, these complexes shot down two Tornado aircraft.

The Roland-2 all-weather self-propelled anti-aircraft missile system with a radar target tracking system was developed by Messerchmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (Germany) together with Aerospatiale-Matra (France) and is capable of destroying targets flying at speeds up to M = 1.2 at altitudes from 15 m to 5.5 km and at ranges from 500 m to 6.3 km. Initially, the complex was created for the needs of the Bundeswehr, however, due to the clear advantage of the new complex over the previously released Roland-1 air defense system, the command of the French army decided to convert some of its Roland-1 complexes into the Roland-2 version. This possibility was foreseen by the developers at the stage of creating the complex.
The Roland-2 air defense system can be placed on various chassis: in the French Armed Forces - the chassis of the AMX-30 medium tank, in the Bundeswehr - the chassis of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. The combat crew of the air defense system consists of three people: the driver, commander and operator.


The layout of the Roland-2 air defense system, in general, is similar to the layout of the Roland-1 air defense system. On the unified rotating tower are installed: beams for placing missiles, a detection radar antenna, a target and missile tracking radar antenna, optical and infrared tracking systems and a command transmitter antenna. Inside the launcher housing are mounted transmitters and receivers for target detection radar and target and missile tracking radar, a calculating device, a control panel, two revolver-type magazines with eight missiles in transport and launch containers, a radio station, instrumentation and power supply. Guidance of holding beams with containers in the elevation plane is carried out automatically along the target tracking line, in the azimuthal plane - by turning the tower.

The Roland-2 air defense system differs from its prototype by the presence of a target tracking radar and a missile, which ensures the operation of the complex at any time of the day, regardless of weather conditions.
The Roland-2 air defense system fires the same missiles as the Roland-1 air defense system. The solid-propellant rocket has its own weight of 62.5 kg, the weight of the fragmentation-cumulative warhead is 6.5 kg, including 3.3 kg of explosive. In addition to the contact fuse, the warhead also has a radio fuse that provides triggering at a distance of up to 4 m from the target. The radius of expansion of 65 fragments is about 6 m. The missile is in a sealed transport and launch container (TLC) and does not require inspections and checks. The weight of the equipped TPK is 85 kg, the length is 2.6 m, the diameter is 0.27 m. The duration of operation of the SNPE Roubaix solid-fuel rocket engine with a thrust of 1600 kg is 1.7 s, it accelerates the rocket to a speed of 500 m / s. The SNPE Lampyre type sustainer rocket engine has an operating time of 13.2 s. The maximum speed of the rocket is reached at the end of the engine. The minimum flight time required to put the missile on a trajectory is 2.2 s. The flight time to the maximum range is 13-15 s.


The missile can be guided to the target using an optical infrared sight, while the deviations of the missile from the given course are entered into the calculating device, and the guidance commands are automatically transmitted to the missile by the command transmitter. It is also possible guidance using a two-channel monopulse target and missile tracking radar. The transmitter of this radar is assembled on a magnetron. To reduce the influence of reflections from local objects, the station uses Doppler filtering of the reflected signals. The parabolic antenna is gyro-stabilized in azimuth and elevation and has a radiation pattern of 2° in azimuth and 1° in elevation. The range resolution of the station is 0.6 m. In the process of combat work, it is possible to quickly switch guidance modes, which significantly increases the noise immunity of the Roland-2 complex.

The tracking radar is mounted on the front side of the chassis, it is a two-channel monopulse Doppler station of the Thomson-CSF Domino 30 type. The target is tracked by one channel, and the microwave source (transmitter) on the rocket is captured for tracking by the second. After launch, the IR rangefinder, located on the tracking radar antenna, is used to capture the missile at ranges of 500-700 m, since the narrow beam of the tracking radar is only being formed at these ranges. Information about the deviation of the missile from the line of sight (antenna-target) is converted by the computing device into commands to deflect the missile's rudders in the same way as when operating in the optical mode.
In both modes, the initial automatic detection of targets occurs using a D-band Siemens MPDR-16 type pulse Doppler surveillance radar, the antenna of which rotates at a speed of 60 rpm. Surveillance radar also has the ability to detect hovering helicopters. When the target is detected, it is identified using the Siemens MSR-40015 interrogator (on a German chassis) or the LMT NRAI-6A type (French chassis), and then, at the command of the air defense system commander, it is captured for escort.


To check the combat means of the complex (except for missiles), test equipment is used, which detects malfunctions within 10 seconds.
The working time of the complex (from the alarm signal to the launch of the missile defense system) during the shelling of the first target is 8-12 seconds. The processes of preparation for launch and launch of missiles, which take about 1 second, are automated. Taking into account the time for reloading and preparation for the launch of the subsequent missile, the rate of fire is 2 rds / min.
In Germany, anti-aircraft missile regiments of corps subordination are armed with Roland-2 anti-aircraft systems. Each regiment has six firing batteries with six launchers each. In the French army, Roland-2 systems are equipped with anti-aircraft missile regiments of divisional and corps subordination (the regiment has eight Roland-1 air defense systems and eight Roland-2 air defense systems). It is believed that each such regiment is capable of providing reliable air defense for an area up to 100 km2 or along a movement route up to 20 km long.

Tactical and technical characteristics of the air defense system "Roland-2":
Firing range, m: minimum - 500, maximum - 6200-6300;
Target engagement height, m: minimum - 15, maximum - 5500;

Rocket "Roland":
Starting weight, kg: 66.5;
Length, mm: 2400;
Wingspan, mm: 500;
Maximum case diameter, mm: 160;
Maximum flight speed, m/s: 560;

Launcher on the chassis "Marder":
Launcher weight, kg: 32500;
Crew, people: 3;
Ground pressure, kg/cm2: 0.93;
Length, m: 6.915;
Width, m: 3.24;
Height in the stowed position (antenna folded), m: 2.92;
Clearance, m: 0.44;
Maximum speed on the highway, km / h: 70;
Power reserve, km: 520;
Height of the overcome obstacle, m; 1.5

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