Mectron MAA-1 Piranha
Encyclopedia
The MAA-1 Piranha 1 is a short-range infrared homing
missile and the first air-to-air missile
developed by Brazil
for its Air Force
and Navy
. It was designed to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder
missiles in Brazilian service and has since been exported to Colombia and Pakistan.
Piranha achieved some degree of operational capability in September 1992. It has been assumed that the missile achieved initial operational capability in 1993 coinciding with the last test campaign. The MAA-1 project has been handled by many Brazilian companies since its inception in the 1970s but finally was Mectron in the 1990s who developed the MAA-1 missile weapon system.
) whereby they would share in the further development cost of the A-Darter
missile to replace the Piranha, on F-5BR, in 2015.
passive guidance which seeks the target's heat emissions coming primarily from the engine/s. The infrared sensor uses two colors to discriminate infrared countermeasures (IRCM) from the real target and was supplied by South Africa
's Kentron (Denel
Group). It is highly manoeuvrable and can turn at accelerations of up to 50g. The Piranha performs as a 'fire and forget' missile, that means once launched the missile does not require input data coming the aircraft's sensors to hit its target. A laser fuze
is responsible for detonating the high explosive warhead. Externally, it is very similar to Rafael's Python 3 air-to-air missile and the aerodynamic configuration is near the same.
During the 1990s Mectron conducted Piranha missile test firings on the AT-26 Xavante, F-5 and Mirage III aircraft. The missile was qualified for operation on the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) F-5E in September 1992. Missile production began from 1993 onwards but no date has been confirmed yet. The Piranha air-to-air missile has also been integrated into Brazilian AMX tatical attack aircraft and could be integrated into many other aircraft used by the Brazilian Air Force, Army and Navy in the near future.
The MAA-1 Piranha is a missile air-air short range with infrared guidance system for aerial combat of the "dogfight" in tactical characteristics of the F-103E aircraft IIIEBR Mirage, F-5E Tiger II, A-1 AMX, A-29 Super Tucano, AT-26 Xavante (tests) and possibly the AF-1 Hawks Navy and the "new" FAB Mirage 2000C.
The data indicate a missile Mectron sensor "passive infrared seeker all-aspect", with characteristic equivalent to the U.S. AIM-9L.
The technical specifications of the manufacturer advises that the missile is able to "pull" to 50 G's (capacity of the cell), has an infrared detector InSb scan cone-cooled gas, with scanning speed 35° / s and view angle of 37°. The G-load is more indicative of the strength of the cell as the missile does not have a narrow turning radius. To achieve a turning radius that would create a 50-G load would require a sophisticated digital autopilot and would only be possible when the rocket motor is burning.
The acquisition target may be in standalone mode or with the missile "appointed" by the radar, HUD or crosshairs on the helmet (which means some capacity off-boresight). Radar acquisition of the target is particularly useful in night time or low visibility conditions.
The CTA data indicate maximum g-load of 45 g's, a turning speed at or above 20 degrees per second and maximum angle of screening more than 30 degrees. Another source says that the CTA is also developing an infrared sensor capable of trapping front for future versions. This means that the missile is not "all-aspect" and can only engage targets by the industry back. These data may refer to older models.
The warhead is a blast fragmentation type with HMX explosives and weighs 12kg (20kg in the original model). A proximity fuze is laser-active timer with fuze and impact.
The rocket motor has a burn time of 2.1 second, a maximum thrust of 27,000 newtons and can accelerate the Piranha missile up to Mach 2. The motor uses smokeless propellant. The theoretical range is 8–10km (4–6km in early versions from the 70's and 80's). The mission time is 40 seconds.
Navigation is by proportional navigation with pneumatic actuator and "canards" for steering control. The scroll control and stabilization is by "rollerons" in stabilizers.
The Piranha has achieved the design parameters of the first phase was to overcome the AIM-9B. In the second phase of the project the goal was to overcome the AIM-9E
Infrared homing
Infrared homing refers to a passive missile guidance system which uses the emission from a target of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared part of the spectrum to track and follow it. Missiles which use infrared seeking are often referred to as "heat-seekers", since infrared is just below the...
missile and the first air-to-air missile
Air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
developed by Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
for its Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
The Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
and Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
. It was designed to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. The missile entered service with United States Air Force in the early 1950s, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces...
missiles in Brazilian service and has since been exported to Colombia and Pakistan.
History
Development of an air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9B Sidewinder in FAB service began in March 1976 by Brazil's Instituto de Aeronáutica e Espaço (IAE). By 1978 it had been defined as a weapon similar in capability to the AIM-9G. The project was classified until 1981. The pace of the project was quickened after the 1982 Falklands war and the missile was dubbed Piranha. Contracts were awarded to DF Vasconcellos SA, a Brazilian company with experience in optics and guided weaponry which was given the task of developing the weapon's infra-red seeker. However the company went backrupt in the mid-1980s and it abandoned the Piranha project in 1986.Piranha achieved some degree of operational capability in September 1992. It has been assumed that the missile achieved initial operational capability in 1993 coinciding with the last test campaign. The MAA-1 project has been handled by many Brazilian companies since its inception in the 1970s but finally was Mectron in the 1990s who developed the MAA-1 missile weapon system.
Replacement
An agreement has been signed between the Brazilian Air Force and South Africa's Denel Dynamics (part of ArmscorArmscor
Armscor refers to either:*Armscor , the South African arms acquisition and sales agency*Armscor , the Philippines-based manufacturer of weapons...
) whereby they would share in the further development cost of the A-Darter
A-Darter (missile)
The A-Darter is a fifth generation short range infrared homing air-to-air missile, under development by South Africa's Denel Dynamics and Brazil's Mectron. It is expected to enter service with the South African Air Force, Brazilian Air Force and be offered for export...
missile to replace the Piranha, on F-5BR, in 2015.
Design
The MAA-1 Piranha is a supersonic, short-range air-to-air missile relying on infraredInfrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
passive guidance which seeks the target's heat emissions coming primarily from the engine/s. The infrared sensor uses two colors to discriminate infrared countermeasures (IRCM) from the real target and was supplied by South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's Kentron (Denel
Denel
Denel Ltd is a South African state owned aerospace and defence technology conglomerate established in 1991. It was created when the manufacturing subsidiaries of Armscor were split off in order for Armscor to become the procurement agency for South African Defence Force , now known as the South...
Group). It is highly manoeuvrable and can turn at accelerations of up to 50g. The Piranha performs as a 'fire and forget' missile, that means once launched the missile does not require input data coming the aircraft's sensors to hit its target. A laser fuze
Fuze
Fuze Beverage, commercially referred to as just Fuze , is a manufacturer of teas and non-carbonated fruit drinks enriched with vitamins. Currently the brand consists of five vitamin-infused lines: Slenderize, Refresh, Tea, Defensify, and Vitalize...
is responsible for detonating the high explosive warhead. Externally, it is very similar to Rafael's Python 3 air-to-air missile and the aerodynamic configuration is near the same.
During the 1990s Mectron conducted Piranha missile test firings on the AT-26 Xavante, F-5 and Mirage III aircraft. The missile was qualified for operation on the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) F-5E in September 1992. Missile production began from 1993 onwards but no date has been confirmed yet. The Piranha air-to-air missile has also been integrated into Brazilian AMX tatical attack aircraft and could be integrated into many other aircraft used by the Brazilian Air Force, Army and Navy in the near future.
The MAA-1 Piranha is a missile air-air short range with infrared guidance system for aerial combat of the "dogfight" in tactical characteristics of the F-103E aircraft IIIEBR Mirage, F-5E Tiger II, A-1 AMX, A-29 Super Tucano, AT-26 Xavante (tests) and possibly the AF-1 Hawks Navy and the "new" FAB Mirage 2000C.
The data indicate a missile Mectron sensor "passive infrared seeker all-aspect", with characteristic equivalent to the U.S. AIM-9L.
The technical specifications of the manufacturer advises that the missile is able to "pull" to 50 G's (capacity of the cell), has an infrared detector InSb scan cone-cooled gas, with scanning speed 35° / s and view angle of 37°. The G-load is more indicative of the strength of the cell as the missile does not have a narrow turning radius. To achieve a turning radius that would create a 50-G load would require a sophisticated digital autopilot and would only be possible when the rocket motor is burning.
The acquisition target may be in standalone mode or with the missile "appointed" by the radar, HUD or crosshairs on the helmet (which means some capacity off-boresight). Radar acquisition of the target is particularly useful in night time or low visibility conditions.
The CTA data indicate maximum g-load of 45 g's, a turning speed at or above 20 degrees per second and maximum angle of screening more than 30 degrees. Another source says that the CTA is also developing an infrared sensor capable of trapping front for future versions. This means that the missile is not "all-aspect" and can only engage targets by the industry back. These data may refer to older models.
The warhead is a blast fragmentation type with HMX explosives and weighs 12kg (20kg in the original model). A proximity fuze is laser-active timer with fuze and impact.
The rocket motor has a burn time of 2.1 second, a maximum thrust of 27,000 newtons and can accelerate the Piranha missile up to Mach 2. The motor uses smokeless propellant. The theoretical range is 8–10km (4–6km in early versions from the 70's and 80's). The mission time is 40 seconds.
Navigation is by proportional navigation with pneumatic actuator and "canards" for steering control. The scroll control and stabilization is by "rollerons" in stabilizers.
The Piranha has achieved the design parameters of the first phase was to overcome the AIM-9B. In the second phase of the project the goal was to overcome the AIM-9E
Variants
- MAA-1A Piranha 1 - In service.
- MAA-1BMAA-1BMAA-1B is a Brazilian air to air missile produced by Mectron. The project is under development, it will be a 4th generation missile.-Development:MAA-1B is in the final stage of development...
Piranha 2 - Improved range, maneuverability and infra-red counter-measures (IRCM) systems. 80% of the components are Brazilian. Undergoing testing which may be completed by late 2008 or early 2009.
Operators
- Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
- Colombian Air ForceColombian Air ForceThe Colombian Air Force or FAC is the Air Force of the Republic of Colombia.The Colombian Air Force is one of the three institutions of the Armed Forces of Colombia, charge according to the 1991 Constitution of the work to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's airspace to defend the...
- Pakistan Air ForcePakistan Air ForceThe Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
- Unknown number of MAA-1A Piranha 1 missiles delivered in June 2010. Letter of IntentLetter of intentA letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
signed by Pakistan to procure the MAA-1B Piranha 2.