South African guided- weapons specialist Kentron this week unveiled its previously classified Raptor 1 stand-off glide bomb at the Aerospace Africa 98 show at Waterkloof AFB, Pretoria.
The Raptor 1 is a 1,200kg, 60km (32nm)-plus range weapon, with a television seeker and also fitted with flip-out wings (Flight International, 18-24 March).
Kentron views both radar and imaging-infrared seekers as possible upgrades. An anti-radiation variant is also thought to be being offered.
An early variant of the Raptor was used by the South African Air Force (SAAF) to attack fixed targets during the Angolan conflict in the mid-1980s.
The Raptor 1 has been cleared for carriage on Atlas Cheetahs, Dassault Mirage F1s and Mirage IIIs. Kentron is pursuing several export opportunities with the weapon, as it is with the extended range Raptor 2. The Raptor 2 is equipped with rocket boosters which increase the weapon's range to more than 120km.
The Raptor 1, thought to be designated the H2 within the SAAF, uses a datalink pod to provide real-time target imagery for manual guidance in the terminal phase of the engagement.
Source: Flight International
