- Yes
- No
Thomson-CSF Mygale
History:
The Mygale air defense system, originally from France, was acquired by Chile in the early 1990s and replaced the Crotale 3000 series system acquired during the Beagle conflict in 1978. This system consists of an air defense command and control post known as Samantha and up to eight firing units known as Aspic. The missiles carried in the firing units are the French Mistral, which are notable for their high speed and ability to reach their targets quickly, making them suitable for the defense of important points such as air bases, etc. It is known that only France and Chile operated/operate the Mygale system.
Samantha is an early warning/command and control unit for air defense firing units, whether cannon or missile. Samantha automatically performs air surveillance, target detection, IFF, threat assessment, assignment to firing units, and target designation. Samantha uses the Thales Defense Systems TRS 2630P radar, which has a detection range of 20 km for aircraft and 10 km for helicopters. The radar is mounted on a hydraulic mast that can be raised 8 meters for improved coverage.
Samantha’s basic crew includes the commander and the operator. The system is capable of coordinating up to eight firing units, and since the Aspic units are automatic, data transmission is computer-to-computer.
The maximum distance between Samantha and the Aspic firing units is up to 5 km. All of Samantha’s subsystems are enclosed in a shelter that provides complete protection against NBC, EMI, and ECM. In Chile, the shelter is mounted on French ACMAT VLRA trucks and Brazilian MB 1418 LAK trucks.
The Aspic system can be mounted on various 4x4 vehicles and in Chile it is used on the Peugeot P4, the turret can carry up to 4 mistral missiles ready to be fired, 2 on each side, and can carry 4 more at the rear of the Peugeot to be recharged. The crew for the “autonomous” mode, that is, without the need for any external accompanying radar, is made up of a driver and an operator who acts as a “pointer” using a special helmet, although if necessary it can also be operated by a single person who would act as an operator-driver. This shooting station is fitted with a fire control system that has a TV tracking sensor package with TV camera, TV angle deviation measurement device, digital computer and vertical gyro. This allows for fast and automatic target acquisition, accurate target tracking and optimization of the lead angle and validation of the designated missile IR seeker on the assigned target. An infrared camera provides for a night time and reduced visibility engagement capability.
In independent mode the operator wears a helmet called “Daldo” which has a helmet-mounted optical target designation system known as “ARES” in this way the operator can follow his target at all times with his eyes and aiming with the helmet acting as a “pointer”, in this way the operator manages the Aspic system in conjunction with a remote firing control console from a distance of up to 50 m that allows him to rotate the turret by 360° and fire when it is need and during the night the operator can use an infrared camera.
Due to the new mechanics within the game, the main vehicle is now the one with the radar, in this case it would be Samantha, and up to 2 Aspic firing vehicles could be deployed, making this system even more interesting. Another important quality of the Mygale system is that the Aspic firing units are autonomous and do not need Samantha to fire since they have the Ares system with the Daldo helmet that allows the operator to aim with their sight and in case of losing the main vehicle with the radar (Samantha), the Peugeot P4s with the Aspic could still be operational.
Specifications:
French ACMAT VLRA truck (Samantha)
- Crew:
- 2 (Commander, Operator)
- Dimensions:
- Length: 6,30 m
- Width: 2,10 m
- Height: 2,56 m
- Weight: 4,300 kg empty
- Maneuverability:
- Maximum road speed: 100 km/h
Peugeot P4 (Aspic)
- Crew:
- 2 (Commander, Gunner)
- Armament:
- Primary: 4 surface-to-air mistral missiles, another four missiles are stored in the rear of the vehicle
- Primary: 4 surface-to-air mistral missiles, another four missiles are stored in the rear of the vehicle
- Dimensions:
- Length: 4.2 - 4.6m
- Width: 1.7m
- Height: 1.9m
- Weight: empty 1.75 t, Maximum load: 0.5 t
- Maneuverability:
- Engine: Peugeot XN8 petrol
- Engine power: 78 hp
- Maximum road speed: 108 - 118 km/h
- Range: ~ 600 km
- Gradient: 70%
- Side slope: 30%
- Vertical step: ~ 0.5 m
- Trench : 0.5 m
- Fording: 0.6 m
Photos:
Sources:
- Sistemas de Defensa Aérea en las FAS de Chile, poder de disuasión -noticias, defensa.com - Noticias Defensa Contenido Editorial
- http://www.military-today.com/trucks/peugeot_p4.htm
- Janes Land-Based Air Defence 1992-1993
- Janes Land-Based Air Defence 2002-2003
- Aspic anti-aircraft missile system | Missilery.info
- VLRA TPK