R550 MAGIC
TYPE:
Short range IR air-to-air missile.
DEVELOPMENT:
Feasibility studies for R550 Magic 1 started at Matra
in 1967, with government funded development starting
in
1969. The first flight trials took place in 1971, and
series production with first deliveries to the French
Air Force in 1975. Magic 1 was limited to tail-aspect
engagements only by the lack of sensitivity of the IR
detector. An improved version, Magic 2, entered
development in the late 1970s and entered service in
1985. Magic 2 has many improvements over Magic 1, but
principally has an all-aspect engagement capability and
it takes far less time to prepare the missiles for
launch.
DESCRIPTION:
The Magic 2 is 2.75 m long, has a body diameter of 157
mm and a wing span of 0.66 m. The missile weighs 90 kg.
Magic 1 and 2 have the same external appearance, with
double nose fins and free rotating rear wings. The
front four delta fins are fixed and the four moving
control fins have a rectangular forward section
followed by a delta rear section. This double canard
configuration allows the moving fins to maintain
control at higher angles of incidence. Changes made to
Magic 2, with regard to Magic 1, include a more
sensitive IR seeker with head-on capability and
improved infrared counter-countermeasures including
flare rejection.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Magic 1
Length: 2.72 m
Body diameter: 157 mm
Wingspan: 0.66 m
Launch weight: 89 kg
Warhead: 13 kg HE fragmentation
Fuze: IR
Guidance: IR
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 3 km
Magic 2
Length: 2.75 m
Body diameter: 157 mm
Wingspan: 0.66 m
Launch weight: 90 kg
Warhead: 13 kg HE fragmentation
Fuze: RF
Guidance: IR
Propulsion: Solid propellant
Range: 5 km