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AS-20
AS-20
AS-20
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The AS-20 (Type 5110) was a French air-to-surface missile developed during the late 1950s. It was similar to the U.S. AGM-12 Bullpup missile.

Key Information

Development

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The AS-20 was based on an earlier Nord Aviation air-to-air missile the AA.20 (designated Type 5103). Only minor changes were required to make it an air-to-surface missile, the size of the warhead was increased as a result of replacing the large proximity fuze with a simple impact fuze.

Design

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The AS-20 had four steeply swept-back fins, cruciform in cross-section around the midsection of its body. It used a dual-thrust solid rocket motor, which exhausted through two large nozzles during the boost stage, and a single center line nozzle during the sustain stage. The AS-20 uses a simple MCLOS guidance with the pilot aligning the flares on the missile's rear with the target and controlling the missile in flight after launch with a small joystick sending steering commands to the missile via a radio link. The steering commands steer the missile back to the line-of-sight by thrust vectoring by the movement of one of four metal vanes around the center sustainer nozzle. The missile's internal gyro gives the missile command unit, the correct position of the missile in flight, and to which of the four thrust vanes to actuate at the correct time.

Operational history

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Approximately 8,000 of the missiles were built, with the missile entering service in 1961. The AS-20 was one of the primary weapons of the Fiat G.91 of the West German Air Force and Italian Air Force during the 1960s and 1970s. It was phased out of service in most countries in the 1970s, being replaced in France by the larger AS-30.

Operators

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Map with AS-20 operators in blue

Former operators

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 France
 Germany
 Italy
 South Africa

References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

AS-20

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The AS-20 (also known as the Nord AS.20 or Type 5110) was a short-range developed by the French company during the late . It represented an early adaptation of the AA.20 into a ground-attack , featuring manual radio-command guidance operated via a from the launching aircraft's . Powered by a dual-thrust motor, the AS-20 achieved a maximum speed of Mach 1.7 and an operational range of 1.3 to 7 kilometers. The measured 2.59 meters in length, with a of 25 centimeters and a of 78 centimeters, while its total weight was approximately 145 kilograms, including a 33-kilogram high-explosive designed for anti-armor and surface targets. Entering service with the French Air Force around 1961, it was used on such as the Super Mystère B2. The AS-20 was integrated onto several aircraft platforms, including up to four missiles under the wings of the and one under the fuselage of the IIIEZ and Mirage F1AZ, enabling strikes against armored vehicles, bunkers, and other hardened targets during the era. Its line-of-sight guidance required the pilot to maintain visual contact and continuously adjust the missile's trajectory, limiting its effectiveness in contested environments but proving reliable in training and limited operational use by French and export customers such as .

History

Development

The AS-20 originated as an adaptation of the (Type 5103) , whose development initiated in 1953 under a French government contract. The AA.20, Europe's first operational air-launched missile, entered service in 1956 with radio-command guidance, but by the late 1950s, repurposed its design for ground attack roles to address emerging needs for precision strikes against surface targets. This adaptation reflected limited R&D funding constraints in post-war , emphasizing reuse of existing technology to accelerate development. Key modifications transformed the AA.20 into the AS-20 for its air-to-surface mission, including the replacement of the with an impact to suit direct hits on ground or , an increase in warhead size from 23 kg to 33 kg by incorporating a semi-perforating charge derived from the AS.12 , and a redesign to enable supersonic performance for rapid ground attack profiles. The initial concept emerged as Type 5110 in the late , receiving its official designation as AS-20 in 1958. First flight tests occurred on June 12, 1959, from a Mystère IVA , with development completing by 1960, leading to operational readiness shortly thereafter. Engineering challenges centered on attaining a top speed of Mach 1.7 while preserving compatibility with manual radio-command guidance, requiring precise integration of jet deflectors in the solid-fuel rocket motor for enhanced control authority during supersonic flight. These deflectors enabled responsive maneuvering under pilot control via cockpit joystick, distinguishing the European design's emphasis on radio-command systems from more automated approaches. The AS-20 drew conceptual parallels to the U.S. AGM-12 Bullpup, sharing a similar manual line-of-sight guidance philosophy, though it prioritized indigenous European engineering for radio-link reliability in diverse operational environments.

Production

Production of the AS-20 commenced in 1961 at facilities in , immediately following the successful testing and validation of prototypes. The manufacturing process centered on the assembly of solid rocket motors featuring dual-thrust configurations, with initial boost phases using grains and sustained flight supported by Icare grains, alongside integration of radio electronics and precision for nozzles to ensure reliable performance. This output supported both domestic needs and international demand, with initial contracts awarded by the French government in 1960 to kickstart serial production. In the mid-1960s, additional batches were assembled for export to and , primarily equipping aircraft such as the for the and Italian forces. Production activities were initially based at the Châtillon plant before shifting to the larger facility to accommodate growing export orders, particularly for allies. Economic aspects included cost-effective leveraging of existing AA.20 tooling for component commonality, though full-scale AS-20 assembly required specialized lines for surface-attack adaptations. By the late , manufacturing ceased as resources were redirected toward advanced successors like the AS.30, marking the end of the AS-20's industrial lifecycle.

Operational service

The AS-20 entered service with the French Armée de l'Air in 1961, becoming the first operational in NATO's European forces. Initial integration occurred on platforms such as the , enabling its deployment for tactical roles. In service, the AS-20 primarily supported and anti-armor operations amid tensions in Europe, equipped with a 33 kg high-explosive, fragmentation, or armor-piercing suitable for such missions. Its manual radio-command guidance system, requiring pilot control via a cockpit , placed heavy emphasis on specialized training to ensure effective use. The missile saw widespread adoption in exercises throughout the 1960s, including simulated anti-armor strikes in joint maneuvers, though no confirmed deployments occurred. By the late 1970s, it remained active in the French Tactical Air Force inventory, compatible with aircraft including the Mirage III, , and F-104G. Retirement proceeded gradually across operators, with French forces phasing out the AS-20 in the early in favor of the more capable AS.30, a direct evolution of the AS-20 design featuring enhanced range and warhead size. Other nations followed similar timelines, completing withdrawals by the late . The AS-20's operational tenure advanced European proficiency in manually guided weapons and directly informed subsequent French air-to-surface developments like the AS-30.

Design

Configuration

The AS-20 employs a compact cylindrical designed for beam-riding flight, measuring 2.59 meters in length, 0.25 meters in , and featuring a of 0.78 meters, with a total launch weight of 143 kilograms. This configuration incorporates wings and tail control surfaces to ensure aerodynamic stability during powered ascent and unpowered glide phases. The rear section includes flares to support visual acquisition and tracking by the launching aircraft's pilot. At the forward end, the missile houses a 30-kilogram high-explosive shaped charge warhead equipped with an impact fuze optimized for strikes against ground targets, providing effective penetration against armored vehicles such as tanks. The warhead's design emphasizes concentrated blast and fragmentation effects to maximize damage to soft and hardened point targets. The AS-20 is adapted for integration with standard underwing or under-fuselage pylons on NATO-compatible fighter-bombers, enabling carriage in multiples for salvo launches; representative platforms include the Italian Fiat G.91 light attack aircraft and the British Blackburn Buccaneer strike aircraft. Aerodynamic refinements, including a streamlined low-drag profile and folding fins, allow for supersonic speeds post-launch while minimizing interference during aircraft storage and deployment.

Guidance

The AS-20 utilized a manual command-to-line-of-sight (MCLOS) guidance system transmitted via radio link, allowing the pilot to steer the missile after launch using a dedicated joystick in the aircraft cockpit. This approach required the pilot to maintain visual contact with both the target and the missile throughout the flight, issuing corrective commands to adjust its trajectory in real time. The system represented an early form of precision guidance for air-to-surface munitions, relying on the operator's skill rather than onboard sensors for terminal homing. For tracking, the pilot aligned the target reticle with the missile's rear flares, which were visible through the aircraft's optical sight, while sending proportional steering commands over a UHF radio link to correct deviations. The missile featured four movable tail fins as primary control surfaces, actuated by servo motors that directly responded to these radio signals, enabling pitch and yaw adjustments without roll control to simplify operator input. This configuration demanded steady aircraft flight to preserve line-of-sight, limiting effective control to a maximum range of approximately 7 km. Extensive training was essential for pilots to master the simultaneous tasks of aircraft control and missile guidance, often involving simulator sessions to build the necessary hand-eye coordination and reaction times. Despite these demands, the MCLOS design provided reliable hit probabilities against stationary or slow-moving targets in clear visibility.

Propulsion

The AS-20 is propelled by a dual-thrust solid-propellant rocket motor, featuring a boost phase for rapid initial acceleration upon launch and a sustain phase to maintain velocity during cruise. This design utilizes composite solid fuel, with the boost phase employing a Plastolite propellant grain weighing 16.3 kg and the sustain phase using an Epictète grain of 23.5 kg, enabling efficient energy release throughout the flight. The motor provides the necessary thrust to accelerate the missile to a maximum speed of Mach 1.7 shortly after launch. The short burn duration of the rocket produces a visible exhaust trail, facilitating optical tracking for manual command guidance. Key performance characteristics include an operational range of 1.3 to 7 km and a time-of-flight of approximately 20-30 seconds, depending on launch altitude and target distance.

Operators

European operators

The French Armée de l'Air served as the primary operator of the AS-20 missile, integrating it on the Dassault Mystère IV and Super Mystère B2 aircraft for operational use from 1961 through the 1970s. The West German Luftwaffe acquired the AS-20 during the 1960s and employed it on the Fiat G.91R/4 for tactical strike missions until the mid-1970s. Italy's Aeronautica Militare followed a comparable adoption pattern, equipping the Fiat G.91 with the AS-20 for NATO-assigned roles throughout the 1960s and 1970s. European nations obtained the AS-20 through direct purchases from manufacturer . By 1980, all European operators had phased out the AS-20 from active service, leading to the disposal of remaining stockpiles as the missile was superseded by more advanced systems.

Other operators

The (SAAF) acquired the AS-20 missile during the 1960s and 1970s as part of its buildup of precision-guided munitions for strike operations, prior to and despite the mandatory arms embargo imposed in 1977. These acquisitions were facilitated through pre-embargo purchases and subsequent circumvention efforts, including local assembly and third-party channels, to maintain compatibility with French-origin aircraft amid international restrictions. The AS-20 was integrated into SAAF strike roles during the (1966–1990), where it supported anti-armor and ground attack missions against insurgent targets in and . The missile was employed on several SAAF platforms, including the S.Mk 50 (carrying up to four under the wings), IIIEZ (one under the ), and F1AZ (one under the ), with adaptations focused on radio-guidance integration for manual control from the . Limited numbers were procured—primarily from French exports—emphasizing its role in targeted strikes rather than mass deployment, and it remained in service through the 1980s. By the early 1990s, the AS-20 was fully retired from SAAF inventory, replaced by more advanced air-to-surface precision-guided munitions to align with post-apartheid defense reforms. No other non-European operators of the AS-20 have been confirmed beyond .
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