Roland

Roland was a French/German mobile short-range air defense missile system. The U.S. Army developed and evaluated an American version of the system, but in the end did not adopt it for large-scale operational service., Roland was a compact mobile surface-to-air system, with two launchers and two radars on a single vehicle. The missile was fired from tube launchers and had a dual-thrust (boost/sustain) solid-fueled rocket motor. Immediately after the missile left the tube, the four cruciform wings and small canards were extended. The Roland was steered in flight by jet vanes. A line-of-sight radio command guidance system directed the missile to its target where the pre-fragmented warhead was detonated by a combined proximity/impact fuze. The Roland system could intercept targets at extremely low to medium altitudes: 20 m (65 ft) to 5500 m (18,000 ft)., Development of Roland began in 1964 as a joint project of France and Germany. Roland eventually entered operational service with the French Army in 1977 and with the German Army in 1978. Roland was successful with other European and international customers., The U.S. Army's Roland program began in 1974, when the Army issued a request for proposals for a new all-weather short-range air defense system. In 1975, Hughes was awarded a development contract for an American version of Roland. Adapting the system to American standards took time, but eventually a U.S.-built Roland was tested in February 1978., However, in 1981 it was decided to terminate the US Roland program and to limit procurement to a single Army National Guard battalion. American production ended in 1985. Roland was never declared fully operational in the U.S. and the only battalion eventually deactivated its Roland assets in September 1988., At White Sands Missile Range, five Roland missiles were first tested in 1975 by the Army., Length: 94 inches , Diameter: 6 inches , Weight: 145 pounds , Propellant: Solid , Range: 3.5 miles , First Firing: 1975