Derived from the ground-launched Crotale system, the Naval Crotale variant was designed as a self-defence missile for use by ships against medium-altitude, low-altitude and sea skimming attacks by aircraft, helicopters and missiles. It can also be used against surface targets in an emergency. The standard Naval Crotale 8S version comprises a turret assembly with two co-axial units (one with eight ready-to-fire missiles in their container-launchers and the other supporting the fire-control radar and IR tracking systems), a shelter housing the electronic data-processing cabinets, and an operators console in the combat operation center for supervising the system and sending the fire orders. A new version, the Modular Naval Crotale, is now available with either an eight missile Modular Naval Crotale (8MS) or a four-missile Modular Naval Crotale (4MS) launcher turret for installation on ships down to 500 tons displacement. In all cases the target acquisition and tracking is performed by the radar of the Naval Crotale system itself after it has been designated by the ship's sensors. Missile guidance is performed by an improved line-of-sight unit. For sea-skimming targets both the missile and target are tracked by a differential IR technique. Once in the vicinity of the target the warhead is detonated by an infra-red proximity fuse with a built-in time delay so that the pre-fragmented splinters formed by the detonation are concentrated to impact in the most vulnerable zone of the target. A total of 18 reload rounds is normally carried for the eight-round launchers. In the French navy the basic Naval Crotale 8S version is fitted to the 'Georges Leygues' and 'Tourville' classes, whilst the Saudi Arabian Navy has bought the Modular Naval Crotale 8MS system for the two frigates being constructed in France.

Specification Naval Crotale

Type: point-defence missile 

Dimensions: length 2.89 m (9 ft 5.8 in); diameter 0. 15 m (5.9 in); span 0.53 m( 1 ft 8. 7 in)

W eights: total round 85 kg ( 187 lb); warhead 15-kg (33-lb) HE-fragmentation

Performance: maximum speed Mach 2.3; range 0.7-13 km (0.43-8.08 miles) against helicopters and non