Mosquito (missile)

The Mosquito was an Italian wire-guided anti-tank missile developed by the Swiss firm Contraves AG in close cooperation with the German firm of Bölkow, and produced by its Italian subsidiary Contraves Italiana SpA. It entered service with the Italian Army in 1961 and Indonesian armed forces. It was broadly similar to anti-tank missiles of the era, having a fibreglass body with four large wings, cruciform in cross-section and a relatively short body.

Oerlikon-Contraves Mosquito
Mosquito at Armee Museum Full
TypeAnti-tank missile
Place of originSwitzerland
Service history
In service1959 – ?
Used byItaly
Production history
DesignerOerlikon-Contraves
Designed1959-1964
Unit cost$900 (flyaway unit in both its training and tactical versions, as of June 1959)[1]
Produced1964
Specifications
Mass14.1 kg
Length111 mm
Width60 mm (wingspan)
Effective firing range1500–1800 m
Warhead weight4 kg
Maximum speed 90 m/s (320 km/h)
Guidance
system
SACLOS

The missile is transported in a cuboid container that also acts as a launcher. The launcher is attached to a control box that is equipped with a binocular sight and control joystick. When the missile is launched the operator steers the missile using the joystick. He first "gathers" the missile to his line of sight to the target.

It is steered in flight by vibrating spoilers in the wings, and spins for additional stabilization, with a pyrotechnically spun gyroscope providing stabilization. Some Mosquito missiles are on display at the Schweizerisches Militärmuseum Full.

Operators
 Italy
 Indonesia
 Malaysia

Specifications
  • Mosquito with startunit
  • Length: 1.11 m
  • Diameter: 0.12 m
  • Wingspan: 0.6 m
  • Weight: 14.1 kg
  • Range 350 m to 2400 m
  • Peak speed: 90 m/s
  • Warhead: Either 4 kg hollow charge (660 mm versus RHA) or fragmentation
  • Propulsion: Two-stage solid rocket motor.
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References
  1. Swiss Firm Turns Out Most Missiles in Italy // Missiles and Rockets, June 1, 1959, p. 22
  • Michael J.H. Taylor (1980). Missiles of the World. Charles Scribner's Sons. ISBN 0-684-16593-7.
  • Schweizerische Militärmuseum Full
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