Italian INDIGO Missile for Antiaircraft Defense at Low Altitude -- on Land and at Sea (INDIGO, Missile Italiano per la Difesa C.A. A Bassa Quota a Terra e a Bordo).

摘要

Several nations have developed types of missiles suitable for defense at low altitude. Among those is Italy, which has developed several interesting systems, the ALBATROS, which has already been adopted by the Navy, the INDIGO, which is described, and the SPADA. The development of the INDIGO was promoted by the Ministry of Defense in order to resolve, in accordance with the specifications established by NATO, the problem of close defense against low-altitude attacks. Studies on that subject were begun in 1962 by the Contraves Co. and continued until, in 1969, the entire program was undertaken by the Sistel Co. (formed with the participation of Contraves itself and other Italian companies), which studied three versions (of the missile launcher): one towed on land, one shipborne, and a self-propelled land version. Currently, after an extensive and favorable series of tests made at the Sardinia proving grounds, the first version of the weapon (the towed land model) is fully operational. The INDIGO has the following characteristics: length, 3,076 m; diameter, 195 mm; launch weight, 120 kg. It has an advanced aerodynamic configuration. The cruciform control wings have an 813-mm span. They are installed very near the center of gravity, which thus permits a rapid response to signals emitted by the guidance system. In line with those wings are the stabilizing tail fins.