R550 Magic 1320944 213056770 2008-05-17T15:48:06Z Milstuffxyz 6531278 {{unreferenced|date=December 2007}} {{Infobox Weapon |is_missile=yes |name=Magic |image=[[Image:Magic-and-Super550.jpg|300px]] |caption=A R550 Magic (left) and [[Super 530]] (right) under the wing of a Mirage 2000 |origin= |type=short-range air-to-air missile |used_by= |manufacturer=[[Matra]], [[MBDA]] |unit_cost= |propellant= |production_date= |service=1975 (Magic) and 1986 (Magic 2) |engine=solid |engine_power= |weight=89 kg |length=2.72 m |height= |diameter=157 mm |wingspan= |speed=Mach 3 |vehicle_range=0.3 to 15 km |ceiling= |altitude=up to 11000 m |filling=13 kg fragmentation |guidance=IR |detonation=IR |launch_platform=[[Dassault Rafale]], [[Dassault Mirage 2000]] }} The '''R550 Magic''' is a short-range [[missile]] designed in 1968 by [[Military of France|French]] company [[Matra]] to compete with the American [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]]. On [[11 January]] 1972, a [[Gloster Meteor]] of the centre for in-flight trials fired the R550 Magic and shot down a [[Nord CT20]] target drone ([[unmanned aerial vehicle]]). Mass-produced from 1976, the Magic was adopted by the [[French Air Force]] and the [[French Navy|Navy]]. The [[Argentine Navy]] received Magics for its [[Super Etendard]]s. However, they were procured after the [[1982]] [[Falklands War]]. An upgraded version, the "Magic 2", replaced the original model in [[1986]]. Now obsolete, 11,300 Magic 2 were produced and it was exported; notably to [[Iraq]], which used them in actual combat. The Magic has 8 fixed fins, and 4 movable fins. It has a [[solid rocket|solid-fuel engine]], and can engage the target independently from the firing aircraft with its passive [[Infra-red guidance]] system. The Magic 2 replaced the AD3601 seeking head by the AD3633, allowing frontal fire on the target (the Magic 1 could only be fired from the rear on the target). The Magic 1 has a transparent dome on its nose, while the Magic 2 is opaque. The Magic is still carried by the [[Super Étendard]], the [[Mirage 2000]] and the [[Dassault Rafale]]. It is gradually being replaced by the [[MBDA MICA]]. Some 480 were sold to [[Taiwan]] and used by the [[Republic of China Air Force]]. ==See also== *[[ASRAAM]] *[[IRIS-T]] *[[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] *[[MBDA MICA]] *[[Shafrir]] *[[List of missiles]] {{missile-stub}} [[Category:Air-to-air missiles of France|R550 Magic]] [[Category:French Air Force guided missiles|R550 Magic]] [[de:R.550 Magic]] [[fr:Matra R550 Magic II]] [[ko:마트라 R550 매직]] [[it:Matra R550 Magic]] [[hu:R550 Magic]] [[ms:Magic II]] [[ja:R.550 (ミサイル)]] [[pl:R550 Magic]] [[zh:魔術一型空對空飛彈]]