| SNEB | |
| Origin: | France |
| Type: | Rocket |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Is Explosive: | yes |
| Is Missile: | yes |
| Used By: | France, United Kingdom, United States, Lebanon |
| Manufacturer: | Thomson-Brandt, Matra |
| Diameter: | 68mm (unfired) |
| Guidance: | none, or laser |
| Launch Platform: | Attack aircraft, helicopters |
The SNEB rocket (Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt French: New Society of Edgar Brandt Establishments) is an unguided air-to-surface 68mm rocket projectile manufactured by the French company TDA Armements, designed for launch by attack aircraft and helicopters. It is also known as the SNEB rocket pod, and sometimes as the Matra rocket, due to it commonly being carried in pod-like launchers built by Matra.
Two other rockets were developed in the 37mm and 100mm caliber. The 37mm caliber was one of the earliest folding fin free flight rockets developed after World War II; it was developed mainly for air-to-air engagements and is no longer in service. The 100mm caliber variant is in service with the French Air Force and a few other air forces. Besides France, several other nations produce the SNEB 68 mm rocket under license. In France today, SNEB has been reorganized into the firm of Thomson-Brandt.
The SNEB rockets can be armed with these warheads:
The Systeme de Roquette A Corrections de Trajectoire (SYROCOT) is a program where a laser-guided seeker is incorporated into the design. It is compatible with the existing SNEB system. It is comparable to the US Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System project.
The French armament company of Matra produced three types of rocket launcher for use with the SNEB 68 mm rockets:
TDA Armements SAS (a subsidiary of Thales Group)[3] also manufactures pods for the 68mm SNEB rocket. Variants produced are the 12 tube Telson 12 JF for fighter aircraft, the 12 tube Telson 12 and the 22 tube Telson 22 used by the Eurocopter Tiger, the 8 tube Telson 8 designed for light helicopters and the 2 tube Telson 2 suitable for unmanned aerial vehicles and light counter-insurgency aircraft.[4]
The British firm Thomas French & Sons also produced a series of launchers for the SNEB, which were licensed versions of the Matra Type 155.[5] These were later adapted for the Royal Navy's own post-war 2-inch RP rockets which replaced the SNEB due to concerns over the electrical firing system being set off by ship radars.
