Rapier FSC

Rapier
A Swiss Air Force Rapier SAM installation with the detached generator set sited approximately 20 metres from the launcher. Fuel is being supplied to the generator from one of the three jerrycans grouped adjacent to it (one in use and two spare).
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1971–present
Used by	See operators
Wars	Falklands War Iran–Iraq War Gulf War
Production history
Designer	British Aircraft Corporation
Designed	1963
Manufacturer	British Aircraft Corporation (1963–1977) BAe Dynamics (1977–1999) MBDA (UK) Ltd (since 1999)
Produced	1969–1990s
No. built	≈25,000 missiles, 600 launchers and 350 radars
Variants	Mk1 ("Hittile"), Mk2B (Missile)
Specifications
Weight	45 kg (99 lb)
Length	2.235 m (88.0 in)
Diameter	0.133 m (5.2 in)
Warhead	Blast fragmentation explosive close proximity warhead
Detonation mechanism	Proximity triggered chemical fuse
Engine	solid-fuel rocket
Wingspan	0.138 m (5.4 in)
Operational range	400 – 8,200 m
Flight ceiling	3,000 m (Mk1 missile), 5,000m (Mk2)
Speed	Mach 2.5 (3,062.6 km/h; 1,903.0 mph)
Guidance system	Automatic command to line of sight
Steering system	flight control surface
Launch platform	vehicle or trailer

Rapier is a surface-to-air missile developed for the British Army to replace their towed Bofors 40/L70 anti-aircraft guns. It was unusual in that it used a manual optical guidance system, sending guidance commands to the missile in flight over a radio link. This provided it with very high accuracy, so only a small warhead was carried.

Entering service in 1972, it eventually replaced all other anti-aircraft weapons in Army service; both the Bofors guns used against low-altitude targets and the Thunderbird missile used against longer-range and higher-altitude targets. As the expected air threat moved from medium-altitude strategic missions to low-altitude strikes, the fast reaction time and high maneuverability of the Rapier made it more effective than either of these weapons, replacing most of them by 1977.

It was later selected by the RAF Regiment to replace their Bofors guns and Tigercat missiles. It also saw international sales. It remains one of the UK's primary air-defence weapon, and its deployment is expected to continue until 2020.

Rapier began development in 1961 as a private venture at British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) known as "Sightline". The project was to combat supersonic, low level, high manoeuvrability aircraft, eschewing any attempt at sensor guidance in favour of a purely optical system. The operator would keep the telescopic gunsight centred on the target, and the automated systems would guide the missile to that point using radio commands. The optical system ensured high accuracy, so it was developed with the intent of directly hitting its target, reducing the size of the warhead required to guarantee a kill, and eliminating the need for a proximity fuse. BAC joked that the system was a "hit-ile", as opposed to a "miss-ile". The weapons system had entirely originated from research carried out by Bradford's Colin Baron and John Twinn at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in the 1960s.