On 02 October 2019, Denel Dynamics announced that it completed the qualification and certification of its A-Darter, a high off-boresight (HOBS) air-to-air missile (AAM), in September.
Denel Dynamics’ A-Darter team conducted a Formal Qualification Review in August 2019. The certification of completion was provided by South Africa’s Directorate System Integrity (DSI) and Brazil’s Institute for Industrial Development and Coordination (IFI).
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In its official press release, Denel Dynamics stated:
“The Type Certificate received by Denel Dynamics is the official acknowledgement that the A-Darter missile meets the technical, operational, logistical, industrial and safety requirements and therefore this concludes the development of the A-Darter missile.”
The Brazilian Air Force’s Department of Aerospace Science and Technology (DCTA) and Denel Dynamics – via the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR) – began co-developing the A-Darter in 2006. However, Denel Dynamics had been doing work on a HOBS AAM prior to partnering with Brazil.
The goal was to develop an ITAR-free (i.e., free of US-controlled subsystems) HOBS AAM that the end-user can pair to a helmet-mounted display and sight (HMD/S) system. In other words, the A-Darter is analogous to the IRIS-T, AIM-9X, and ASRAAM (Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile).
In September 2018, Denel Dynamics announced that it completed integrating and qualifying the A-Darter for use on South Africa and Brazil’s respective Gripen multi-role fighters. Denel Dynamics was awarded a contract to perform the integration work in November 2016.
With the A-Darter ready for operational use, it will be worth observing what other countries procure the HOBS AAM. In 2015, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had listed the A-Darter as an option for use from its JF-17 Block 3, which the PAF expects to acquire by March 2020.
The then Chief Project Director (CPD) of the JF-17, Air Vice Marshal (now Air Marshal) Arshad Malik, stated
“Selex is one of the competitors in the AESA (active electronically scanned array) [radar] requirement. A-Darter, LD-10 anti-radiation missile, CM-400 anti-ship missile, range extension kits and other precision-guided munitions will further improve the jet’s combat punch.”[1]
Currently, Denel Dynamics is also developing the Marlin beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM). Like the A-Darter, the South African munitions maker is open to partnering with an outside stakeholder.
[1] Alan Warnes. “JF-17 Thunder: Pakistan’s Multi-Role Fighter”. 2015.
