MAS Trespasser.

Overview

Trespasser is a single-stage, 10.2 metre long supersonic missile weighing 2,450 kilograms. It is launched from the Type 1000 directly or from a sub sonic platform via a solid-fueled booster that accelerates it to the supersonic speed necessary for the operation of the cruise motor, a MAS kerosene-fuelled “Lope” class RAM jet. This gives a cruise speed of Mach 3.6, and unlike many rocket powered designs the cruise engine burns for the entire flight, giving excellent terminal manoeuvrability at extreme range. It is capable of engaging targets out to at least 140 nautical miles over a wide range of altitudes. The primary fuel tank is in an armoured torus surrounding the main combustion chamber with a secondary fuel tank in the main air pressure wedge.

History

Trespasser began as MAS project N2440, a weapon to replace the ZMAFs third generation long-range surface-to-air missile for use in particular by the Type 1000 Bomber. It entered service in 1999 on the K2 zeppelin air defence platform ZMAFZ 048 “Cloud 11 ½” with the GDX “Regent” solid booster before widespread deployment on the K2 platforms. The missile system was also fitted to the ZMAF Dawnhammer class heavy bomber with a GDX “Parson” solid fuel booster but was removed in the 1998-2000 period to increase the payload and associated with the carpet bombardment role the Dawnhammer was now tasked too.

Guidance is by semi-active radar and optronic homing, with targets being identified by radar optic properties and illuminated by laser or radar from a variety of source. This allows multiple targets to be engaged simultaneously by the same missile with in-flight changes of designated targets available. Firing is from a twin-arm trainable launcher that is loaded automatically on the K2, a sponson wing mount on the Dawnhammer and directly from the main ordinance rack in the Type 1000.

Ordinance

The Missile has tandem ordinance types consisting of a single 5 metre long 55mm HE propelled hypersonic DU penetrator rod which acts as the missiles main support and a shaped 100 kilogram warhead with a copper plasma disc or 830 9mm ball bearings. It can depending on target use one or both.

Variants:

The Mark two introduced in 2009 increased the size of the forward shaped charge payload to 150 kilograms, increased range to 170 Nautical miles and had a massive upgrade of the target acquisition system.

Specifications:

Launch platform: Super Sonic Aircraft, Zeppelin, Fixed installation
Target: High altitude bombers, Interceptors, Hardened Naval and Ground targets.
Builders: MAS
Date of design: 2006
Production period: 2006 / 2018
Operators ZMAF
Variants Mk 1, Mk 2
Number built 13,450

Diameter: 1,212 cm (body)
Wing span: 300 cm
Length 10.2 metres (11.46 m with booster)
Weight 2,450 kg
Propulsion 1 x Ram Jet, (1 x solid fuel booster, sub sonic launch platform only)
Steering: Control surfaces, vectored thrust.
Speed Mach 3.6
Range 170 Nuatical miles (314 kilometres)
Operational Ceiling: 70,000 Feet (21,336 meters)
Trigger: Proximity fuze