Difference between revisions of "Matra R550 Magic 1"
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| + | {{About | ||
| + | | about = French air-to-air missile '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
| + | | usage = the other version | ||
| + | | link = Matra R550 Magic 2 | ||
| + | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' --> | <!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' --> | ||
[[File:WeaponImage Matra R550 Magic 1.png|thumb|left|420px|The Matra R550 Magic 1 missile (scale is approximate)]] | [[File:WeaponImage Matra R550 Magic 1.png|thumb|left|420px|The Matra R550 Magic 1 missile (scale is approximate)]] | ||
{{Break}} | {{Break}} | ||
| − | The | + | The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a French [[Air-to-air_missiles#Infrared_homing_.28heat-seeking.29_missiles|IR homing air-to-air missile]] that was intended to replace the AIM-9s in French Air Force service. It was introduced in [[update "Starfighters"]]. |
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | === Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | ||
| Line 11: | Line 16: | ||
* {{Specs-Link|f-8e_fn}} | * {{Specs-Link|f-8e_fn}} | ||
* {{Specs-Link|jaguar_a}} | * {{Specs-Link|jaguar_a}} | ||
| + | * {{Specs-Link|jaguar_e}} | ||
* {{Specs-Link|mirage_3c}} | * {{Specs-Link|mirage_3c}} | ||
* {{Specs-Link|mirage_3e}} | * {{Specs-Link|mirage_3e}} | ||
| + | * {{Specs-Link|mirage_5f}} | ||
| + | * {{Specs-Link|mirage_f1c}} | ||
| + | * {{Specs-Link|mirage_2000c_s4}} | ||
| + | * {{Specs-Link|mirage_2000c_s5}} | ||
| + | * {{Specs-Link|super_etendard_97}} | ||
== General info == | == General info == | ||
<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the missile.'' --> | <!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the missile.'' --> | ||
| − | The | + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| + | ! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Mass''' || 89 kg | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Guidance''' || IR | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Aspect''' || Rear-Aspect | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Lock range in rear-aspect''' || 5.5 km | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Launch range''' || 10 km | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Maximum speed''' || 3 M | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Maximum overload''' || 35 G | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Missile guidance time''' || 25 secs | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Explosive mass (TNT eq.)''' || 9.6 kg | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |} | ||
| + | The Matra R550 Magic 1 is a very capable missile, with a 35 G maximum overload, which makes it a very deadly missile at top-tier when used correctly. The Matra Magic 1 is also a very light missile, with only two seconds of boost time. The missiles come equipped with large and numerous control surfaces, ensuring high manoeuvrability throughout the flight time. The price of these big control surfaces is a high drag, with the weapon decelerating quickly after the end of boost time, limiting the range of the missiles. | ||
| − | The weapon enable time is 0.5 | + | The weapon enable time is 0.5 seconds, meaning the missile will accelerate straight for half a second before starting manoeuvres. |
=== Effective damage === | === Effective damage === | ||
| − | <!-- ''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)'' -> | + | <!-- ''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)'' --> |
| − | Having a warhead containing 6 kg of HBX explosive (9.6 kg TNT equivalent), it guarantees the destruction of enemy vital parts such as engine, tail section, wings, etc. The explosive charge is | + | Having a warhead containing 6 kg of HBX explosive (9.6 kg TNT equivalent), it all but guarantees the destruction of enemy vital parts such as engine, tail section, wings, etc. The explosive charge is generally enough to deal with any attacker with a single hit. Still, the proximity fuse is very sensible, and the missile can explode far enough from the target, only provoking a critical hit. |
=== Comparison with analogues === | === Comparison with analogues === | ||
<!-- ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' --> | <!-- ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' --> | ||
| − | * [[R-60]] - A soviet short range IR missile with excellent overload performance but poor booster capability | + | * [[R-60]] - A soviet short-range IR missile with excellent overload performance but poor booster capability |
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
<!-- ''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' --> | <!-- ''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' --> | ||
| − | + | The Magic is mounted on the Mirage series of aircraft, being extremely well integrated, and slavable to the aircraft's radar. Meaning that if the Mirage's Cyrano radar is locked on an enemy aircraft, enabling the missile seeker will immediately activate the missile seeker's gimbals, and the seeker will orientate itself in the direction of the locked target. Allowing a certain capability of "off-boresight" shooting of the missile. This fact is important in close-range engagements and dogfights. | |
| − | Overall, the Matra 550 Magic missile is to be used as a close encounter platform. Firing the weapon on an enemy at a distance of more than 2 km yields poor results, especially if the target is fleeing at high speed. Under 1.5 km mark, the hit is nearly assured. Note that the use of flares is an effective countermeasure against the Magic | + | Overall, the Matra 550 Magic missile is to be used as a close encounter platform. Firing the weapon on an enemy at a distance of more than 2 km yields poor results, especially if the target is fleeing at high speed. Under the 1.5 km mark, the hit is nearly assured. Note that the use of flares is an effective countermeasure against the Magic. Concerning off-boresight shoots, sending away the weapon over 1-1.2 km is not advised, because the trajectory correction needed for an off-boresight shoot is higher that a standard shoot. |
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| Line 40: | Line 73: | ||
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * Excellent overload of 35G and high track rate |
| − | * Can be slaved | + | * Can be slaved with the radar and IRST |
| − | * | + | * Powerful booster and with a short burning time, pulls almost instantly and aggressively out of the rail |
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * Pretty vulnerable to countermeasures |
| − | * | + | * As it have a short burning time and high manoeuvrability, has a fairly short range compared to other air-to-air missiles |
| + | * Doesn´t have the All-Aspect capability as the [[Matra R550 Magic 2]] does, not being practical in head-ons or side-aspect shots | ||
| + | * '''Every''' aircraft that has the R.550 Magic are severely limited to only 2 missiles | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | 'Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. | + | <!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' --> |
| + | Being a direct competitor of the US-made [[AIM-9 Sidewinder (Family)|AIM-9s]] in French service, Matra (now part of Airbus SE) developed a new IR AAM for French jets in 1968, with additional control surfaces for better manoeuvrability in combat; the new missile now known as the R.550 Magic was first tested in January 1972 on a Gloster Meteor-converted testbed and finally made it into service in 1975. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The missile has been exported to many countries operating French jets; China also acquired some examples of it and built a reverse-engineered version known as the [[PL-7]]. The more capable [[Matra R550 Magic 2|Magic 2]] was introduced in 1986. | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
Latest revision as of 16:46, 10 January 2024
| This page is about the French air-to-air missile Matra R550 Magic 1. For the other version, see Matra R550 Magic 2. |
Contents
Description
The Matra R550 Magic 1 is a French IR homing air-to-air missile that was intended to replace the AIM-9s in French Air Force service. It was introduced in update "Starfighters".
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
- A-5C
- ▄F-8E(FN)
- Jaguar A
- Jaguar E
- Mirage IIIC
- Mirage IIIE
- Mirage 5F
- Mirage F1C
- Mirage 2000C-S4
- Mirage 2000C-S5
- Super Etendard
General info
| Missile characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 89 kg |
| Guidance | IR |
| Aspect | Rear-Aspect |
| Lock range in rear-aspect | 5.5 km |
| Launch range | 10 km |
| Maximum speed | 3 M |
| Maximum overload | 35 G |
| Missile guidance time | 25 secs |
| Explosive mass (TNT eq.) | 9.6 kg |
The Matra R550 Magic 1 is a very capable missile, with a 35 G maximum overload, which makes it a very deadly missile at top-tier when used correctly. The Matra Magic 1 is also a very light missile, with only two seconds of boost time. The missiles come equipped with large and numerous control surfaces, ensuring high manoeuvrability throughout the flight time. The price of these big control surfaces is a high drag, with the weapon decelerating quickly after the end of boost time, limiting the range of the missiles.
The weapon enable time is 0.5 seconds, meaning the missile will accelerate straight for half a second before starting manoeuvres.
Effective damage
Having a warhead containing 6 kg of HBX explosive (9.6 kg TNT equivalent), it all but guarantees the destruction of enemy vital parts such as engine, tail section, wings, etc. The explosive charge is generally enough to deal with any attacker with a single hit. Still, the proximity fuse is very sensible, and the missile can explode far enough from the target, only provoking a critical hit.
Comparison with analogues
- R-60 - A soviet short-range IR missile with excellent overload performance but poor booster capability
Usage in battles
The Magic is mounted on the Mirage series of aircraft, being extremely well integrated, and slavable to the aircraft's radar. Meaning that if the Mirage's Cyrano radar is locked on an enemy aircraft, enabling the missile seeker will immediately activate the missile seeker's gimbals, and the seeker will orientate itself in the direction of the locked target. Allowing a certain capability of "off-boresight" shooting of the missile. This fact is important in close-range engagements and dogfights.
Overall, the Matra 550 Magic missile is to be used as a close encounter platform. Firing the weapon on an enemy at a distance of more than 2 km yields poor results, especially if the target is fleeing at high speed. Under the 1.5 km mark, the hit is nearly assured. Note that the use of flares is an effective countermeasure against the Magic. Concerning off-boresight shoots, sending away the weapon over 1-1.2 km is not advised, because the trajectory correction needed for an off-boresight shoot is higher that a standard shoot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent overload of 35G and high track rate
- Can be slaved with the radar and IRST
- Powerful booster and with a short burning time, pulls almost instantly and aggressively out of the rail
Cons:
- Pretty vulnerable to countermeasures
- As it have a short burning time and high manoeuvrability, has a fairly short range compared to other air-to-air missiles
- Doesn´t have the All-Aspect capability as the Matra R550 Magic 2 does, not being practical in head-ons or side-aspect shots
- Every aircraft that has the R.550 Magic are severely limited to only 2 missiles
History
Being a direct competitor of the US-made AIM-9s in French service, Matra (now part of Airbus SE) developed a new IR AAM for French jets in 1968, with additional control surfaces for better manoeuvrability in combat; the new missile now known as the R.550 Magic was first tested in January 1972 on a Gloster Meteor-converted testbed and finally made it into service in 1975.
The missile has been exported to many countries operating French jets; China also acquired some examples of it and built a reverse-engineered version known as the PL-7. The more capable Magic 2 was introduced in 1986.
Media
- Images
R.550 Magic seen on Mirage IIIC
The Matra 550 Magic 1 missile. Note the size and number of control surfaces, and the lack of thrust vectoring in the missile's rocket motor nozzle.
- Videos
See also
Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
- reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;
- references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
