Aspide, named for the asp, is an Italian medium range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile produced by Selenia and its successors, Alenia Aeronautica and MBDA that was developed in the 1970s to replace license built AIM-7 Sparrows then in use on Italian Air ForceF-104S Starfighter interceptors. It is similar in appearance to the Sparrow, with original versions sharing an airframe with the type and all using a similar semi-active radar homing seeker. This similarity in appearance combined with Selenia's license production of Sparrows has lead to non-Italian press frequently referring to the missile as a Sparrow variant.
Compared to Sparrow, Aspide features an inverse monopulse seeker that is far more accurate and much less susceptible to ECM than the original continuous-wave version. Aspide also features new electronics, a new warhead, and a new, more powerful engine. Closed-loop hydraulics were also substituted for Sparrow's open-loop type, which gave Aspide better downrange maneuverability. Surface to air versions of the missile further altered this, replacing the original triangular wings with a newly designed cropped delta version in order to reduce the size of launch canisters.
A similar design is the UK's Skyflash, which entered service about the same time. The US's own Sparrow fleet also added an inverse monopulse seeker with AIM-7M in 1982.
Design
Aspide in its various versions was used both in the air-to-air role, carried by Aeritalia F-104s after the ASA upgrade, and in the surface-to-air role from both ground based and shipboard installations. In the former role it has been replaced by AIM-120 AMRAAM and MBDA Meteor, in the latter role it has been replaced by the MBDA Aster. Naval Aspide launchers can be adapted to fire the Sea Sparrow by merely switching a single circuit board.
In the mid 1980s, China imported a small batch of the Aspide Mk. 1 from Italy, then signed an agreement with Alenia to produce the missile locally under license. In 1989, China produced its first batch of Aspide Mk. 1 missiles using imported parts from Italy. However, due to the EEC arms embargo imposed after the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, China was unable to purchase additional Aspide kits.[2] China subsequently developed its own missile family based on the Aspide Mk. 1, with surface to air versions designated HQ-6, and an air-to-air version designated PL-11.
The rocket engine of the Aspide is currently produced by Turkish missile manufacturer Roketsan.[3] It weighs about 75 kg and produces 50 kN of thrust for 3.5 s.
Variants
Aspide Mk. 1 – Similar to AIM-7E, with Selenia monopulse semi-active seeker and SNIA-Viscosa solid-propellant rocket motor. This version was popular with export customers, and sold to 17 countries.[4] The surface-to-air systems are Skyguard and Spada.
Aspide Mk. 2 – Improved version with active radar-homing seeker. Development was shelved in favor of better missiles, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Aspide 2000 – Improved surface-to-air version of the Aspide Mk.1 featuring a 40% improvement in range,[5] used on export Skyguard and Spada 2000 air-defense systems.
Aspide CITEDEF – Surface-to-air version of the Aspide Mk.1 upgraded by CITEDEF of Argentina.[6]
Systems
Four-tube Aspide/Sparrow launcher with Sparrow missile
Skyguard I – Surface to air missile complex from Oerlikon Contraves, supports Sparrow, Aspide, and Skyflash.
Skyguard II – Improved version of Skyguard with added electro-optical tracking and support for Aspide 2000.
Toledo – Skyguard with Skydor fire control system from Navantia.
- 320 Aspide Mk. 1 ordered in 1988 and delivered in 1988–1997 for Skyguard Amoun SAM System; 175 Aspide 2000 ordered in 2007 and delivered in 2008–2010 part of $565m deal; 250 Aspide 2000 ordered in 2007 and delivered in 2008–2013 as part of a $65 m deal for Skyguard air defense systems.[7]
- 200 ordered in 1985 and delivered in 1987–89 part of $230 m deal for 13 Skyguard systems, later upgraded to Skydor, with the missiles retired in 2020; 51 Aspide 2000 ordered in 1996 and delivered in 1997–99 for 2 Spada 2000 SAM systems.
– 24 ordered in 1984 and delivered in 1986–1987 for use on Ratanakosin-class corvettes; 75 ordered in 1986 and delivered in 1988 for use by Royal Thai Army on 1 Spada SAM system.
- Spain will train and donate Aspide 2000 missile systems to Ukraine, with Ukrainian soldiers having finished training on 14 October. On 7 November Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov announced that Ukraine had received the first NASAMS system from the US, along with the Italian made Aspide.[9][10]
References
↑"ASPIDE 2000". MBDA. Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
↑"PL-11". Sinodefence. Archived from the original on 2006-05-27. Retrieved 2006-11-15.
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