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 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.
