OVERVIEW:  The AS.30 is a solid fuel, short-range, MCLOS or SACLOS-guided, air-to-surface missile equipped with a 240 kg warhead.

DETAILS: The AS.30 is a precision attack weapon designed to be used against large high-value targets such as bridges and bunkers.   Using a delay fuse enables the AS.30 to penetrate 2 meters of concrete before exploding.

After launch, the AS.30 is guided to the target using Manual Command to Line of Sight (MCLOS) guidance.   This requires the pilot to both visually track a flare on the rear of the missile and use a joystick to fly the missile into the target, while simultaneously flying their aircraft. Because of the training and practice required, these guidance systems have marginal accuracy on tank-sized targets.  In French service the missile used Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) guidance.  In this case, the operator must continually point a sighting device at the target while the missile is in flight. Electronics in the sighting device track the missile and guide it to the target. 


Specifications: 
Weight: 		520 kg 
Length: 			3.65 m 
Diameter: 		0.342 m 
Wingspan: 		1.0 m 
Speed:			 875 knts (1620 km/hr)
Range:			 1.6-5.4 nm (3-10 km)
CEP:			1.0 meters (CEP for the AS.30L.  AS.30 is likely less accurate) 


NOTES:  IOC:  1964. Used by France, Germany, India, Iraq, Peru, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom and possibly Israel. Can be carried by the Mirage III, Jaguar, Mirage F-1, upgraded Super Etendard, Mirage 2000D, Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale, F-104, Buccaneer, F-16 and Canberra.


SOURCES:  Friedman, Norman. The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998. US Naval Institute Press, 1997, pg. 225 ;  "AS.30." Weaponsystems.net. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://weaponsystems.net/system/1162-AS.30. ; "AS-30L Aircraft Tactical Missile." Missilery.info | Missile Database. Descriptions and Specifications. Accessed April 27, 2023. https://en.missilery.info/missile/as30l. ; "Semi-automatic Command to Line of Sight." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Last modified March 12, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_command_to_line_of_sight.
