RSE Kriens explained

Is Missile:yes
RSE Kriens
Type:Surface-to-air missile
Origin:Switzerland
Launch Platform:vehicle or trailer
Manufacturer:Oerlikon Contraves
Design Date:1959
Production Date:1958–1966
Diameter:42cm (17inches)
Wingspan:2m (07feet)
Length:5.4m (17.7feet)
Weight:missile: 800 kg (empty 360 kg)
Speed:Mach 2.9
Vehicle Range:35km (22miles)
Ceiling:27000m (89,000feet)
Filling:70 kg warhead
Engine:Solid fuel rocket motor
Steering:control surfaces
Guidance:Beam-riding

RSE Kriens was a Swiss-developed surface-to-air missile. It never entered service. It was named Kriens after Kriens, a village located in the canton of Lucerne.

Design and development

From 1959 to 1966, Contraves, along with many other Swiss companies, developed the Kriens, while drawing on the experience of the guided missile system RSC / D, RSD 58. The missile project was funded by both private Swiss companies, as well as the federal government, and was developed up to production-ready stage. The first flight was on 23 March 1964.

The missile's modular system used advanced technology for the ground equipment and the missiles, and the whole system could be interconnected to a multi-part cluster, which included several radars and missile launchers. However, after introduction of the British Bristol Bloodhound as the BL-64 the project was cancelled by the EMD, and the missile was never mass-produced, neither for Switzerland nor for another nation. For export, the system was given the name 'Micon'.

A launcher with two missiles is held at the Flieger-Flab-Museum.

The fire unit consisted of a measuring radar, 1-3 radio collars, 4 launchers, command car, trolley and several units (generators). The trolley, command car, tracking device and aggregates were individually housed on single-axle trailers, the measuring radar and missile launchers on each two-axle trailers.

Contraves built the research rocket Zenit-C using their experience and expertise from designing the Kriens.

References