Sea Skua
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| Type | air-to-surface |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Era | 1980-Present |
| Launch platform | Helicopter launched |
| Target | shipping |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Builder | British Aerospace Dynamics (now MBDA) |
| Date of design | |
| Production period | |
| Service duration | |
| Operators | United Kingdom Brazil Germany Malaysia |
| Variants | ? |
| Number built | ? |
| Specifications | |
| Type | Anti-ship missile |
| Diameter | 0.25 m |
| Wing span | 0.72 m |
| Length | 2.5 m |
| Weight | 145 kg |
| Propulsion | solid fuel booster and solid fuel sustainer |
| Steering | control surfaces |
| Guidance | semi-active radar |
| Speed | Mach 0.8 + |
| Range | 25 km |
| Ceiling | ? |
| Payload | |
| Warhead | 20 kg |
| Trigger | Impact Fuze, delayed detonation. |
The Sea Skua is a British lightweight short range Air-to-Surface missile (ASM) designed for the helicopter launched anti-shipping role. It is primarily used by the Royal Navy on the Lynx helicopter, although it can be ship launched and is in place as a shore battery and also on patrol boats in the Emirate of Kuwait.
With a weight at launch of only 320 lb (145 kg), the Lynx can carry up to four missiles simultaneously. The missile flies at high subsonic speed over ranges of 15.5 miles (25 km). It can be set to travel at one of four pre-selected heights, depending on the surface conditions. Near the target the altitude is raised to target acquisition height. The Sea Skua has semi-active radar guidance; the launching helicopter illuminates the target with its radar (originally the specially developed Ferranti Seaspray in the case of the Lynx), and the missile's homing head homes in on the reflected energy. On impact it penetrates the hull of a ship before detonating the 44 lb (20 kg) blast/fragmentation warhead. The Sea Skua is judged capable of sinking ships of approximately 1,000 tons displacement with a single shot, and can disable much larger vessels.
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[edit] Service
As well as the United Kingdom, the Sea Skua has seen service with Germany, India and Turkey. It was launched 8 times during the Falklands War, sometimes in appalling weather conditions, scoring direct hits on every occasion. Four were used against the 800 ton patrol boat/rescue tug Alférez Sobral striking her on the bridge but not sinking her. They were also used to complete the destruction of the cargo ship Río Carcarañá (8,500 grt) and a patrol boat Río Iguazú. The missile was also launched 12 times during the Gulf War, also with a 100% hit rate.
[edit] Royal Malaysian Navy Service
The Sea Skua entered service with the Royal Malaysian Navy as part of the package for the purchase of 6 AgustaWestland Sea Lynx 300 helicopters for the Royal Malaysian Navy. The missiles supposedly cost RM104-million.
On 16 March 2006 the Royal Malaysian Navy test fired the Sea Skua missile as part of a Contractual Firing exercise. The missile was fired 8 miles downange from the 40m Surface Target Barge. The Sea Skua failed to hit its target and failed to explode. The fault was believed to have been traced to a faulty connecting pin wire that ignites the rocket motor. The missile fell into the sea, and was not recovered. The Royal Malaysian Navy ordered Matra Bae Dynamics (MBDA) to take back the missiles to conduct system checks, and re-tested. MBDA would return the missiles in two months.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
ASRAAM | Fireflash | Firestreak | Red Top | Skyflash ALARM | Brimstone | Martel (UK/France) | Sea Eagle | Sea Skua | Storm Shadow (UK/France) Bloodhound | Blowpipe | Javelin | Rapier | Sea Cat | Sea Dart | Sea Slug | Sea Wolf | Starburst | Starstreak | Tigercat | Thunderbird Swingfire | Malkara (UK/Australia) | Vigilant |
