R-Darter

     Notes:  Unlike the other Darter AAMs, the R-Darter (Radar Darter) is a development of the Israeli Derby AAM.  The R-Darter uses an active radar seeker head and is highly resistant to countermeasures (one level harder to decoy).  It also has home-on-jam ability, something the Derby does not have; the R-Darter can actually home in on a source of jamming signals on a 1D10 roll of 7+ if it has closed to within 20 km of its target and it loses its lock-on due to ECM activity. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon is in extremely short supply; perhaps less than 30 were available at the start of Twilight War hostilities, and very few were produced after that point. 

     Merc 2000 Notes: R-Darter development slowed to a trickle then stopped altogether in 2002.  The South Africans bought Derby missiles from Israel instead.

Weapon

Weight

Accuracy

Guidance

Sensing

Price

R-Darter

118 kg

Easy

Active Radar

All Aspect

$50296

 

Weapon

Speed

Min Rng

Max Rng

Damage

Pen

Type

R-Darter

6000

1000

50000

C48  B100

17C

FRAG-HE

 

U-Darter

     Notes:  The U-Darter (Upgraded Darter) was developed specifically for use by the SAAF for use by their Cheetah aircraft.  It can be used by other aircraft and some helicopters, however.  The biggest differences are a greater weight and size with an increased lethality warhead and improved guidance features. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Though limited quantities of the U-Darter were available for the Twilight War, most SAAF aircraft were still using the V-3C Darter and earlier missiles.

     Merc 2000 Notes: This missile rivaled the Sidewinder and AA-8 for the title of “most-exported air-to-air missile.”

Weapon

Weight

Accuracy

Guidance

Sensing

Price

U-Darter

96 kg

Easy

IR

All Aspect

$9728

 

Weapon

Speed

Min Rng

Max Rng

Damage

Pen

Type

U-Darter

3500

200

10000

C48  B100

17C

FRAG-HE

 

V-3 Kukri/Darter

     Notes:  This weapon entered production in 1981 to arm South African Mirages, Impalas, (and later) Cheetahs.  It is similar in form to the French R.550 Magic, and is probably simply a domestically-produced version of the Magic with a few improvements and tweaks.  The V-3A is the original missile, virtually identical to the Magic; the V-3B is a bit larger, heavier, and more capable; and the V-3C is even larger and heavier.

Weapon

Weight

Accuracy

Guidance

Sensing

Price

V-3A Kukri-A

73 kg

Average

IR

Side Aspect

$7264

V-3B Kukri-B

75 kg

Average

IR

All Aspect

$9264

V-3C Darter

89 kg

Average

IR

All Aspect

$9484

 

Weapon

Speed

Min Rng

Max Rng

Damage

Pen

Type

V-3A Kukri-A

3700

300

8000

C21  B68

12C

FRAG-HE

V-3B Kukri-B

4245

300

8000

C21  B70

12C

FRAG-HE

V-3C Darter

3400

200

6200

C37  B88

17C

FRAG-HE