R550 Magic

The R550 Magic is a a short-range missile designed in 1968 by Matra to compete with the American AIM-9 Sidewinder. On 11 January 1972, a Gloster Meteor of the centre for in-flight trials fired the R550 Magic and shot down a CT20 target drone.

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Mass-produced from 1976, the Magic was adopted by the French Air Force, and the French Navy. In 1986, an upgraded version, the "Magic 2", replaced the original model. Now obsolete, the Magic 2 was produced in 11,300 copies and was exported notably to Iraq and Argentina, which used them in actual combat.

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The Magic has 8 fixed fins, and 4 movable fins. It has a solid-fuel engine, and can engage the target independently from the firing aircraft with its passive IR guidance system. The Magic 2 replaced the AD3601 seeking head by the AD3633, allowing frontal fire on the target (the Magic 1 could only be fired from the rear on the target). The Magic 1 has a transparent dome on its nose, while the Magic 2 is opaque.

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The Magic is still carried by the Super ?tendard, the Mirage 2000 and the Rafale. It is gradually being replaced by the MBDA MICA.

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Matra: M?tra is a mountain range in northern Hungary, between to the towns Gy?ngy?s and Eger. The country's highest peak, K?kestet? (1014 m), belongs to this mountain range....

AIM-9 Sidewinder: The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. It is named after the Sidewinder snake, which also detects its prey via body heat. The Sidewinder was the first really effective air-to-air missile, widely imitated and copied. Its latest variants re...

11 January: REDIRECT January 11...

R550 Magic related Images and Photos (experimental)

Magic	Magic I	Magic Band	Magic Mirror
Magic Carpet, The	Magic Moment	Magic Horses	Magic Evening
Magic Bubbles	Magic Evening	"Caffeinated ""Magic"" Brownie Mix"	Magic Geek Ball