Roland (missile)

Roland
TypeSurface-to-air missile
Service history
In service1977–present
WarsIran-Iraq War
Falklands War
Persian Gulf War
Iraq War
Production history
Designed1963
ManufacturerEuromissile
Specifications
Mass67 kg
Length2.40 m
Diameter16 cm
Wingspan50 cm
Warhead6.5 kg (14 lb) pre-fragmented high-explosive
EngineDual-thrust solid-fueled rocket:
  • Booster: "Roubaix" rocket, 15.3 kN for 1.7 s
  • Sustainer: "Lampyre" rocket, 1.96 kN for 13.2 s
Operational
range
8,000 m
Flight altitude5,500 m
Maximum speed Mach 1.6
Guidance
system
tracking radar
White Sands Missile Range Museum Roland display
Abortive U.S. Army version of Roland, mounted on its purpose-designed XM975 vehicle (single prototype built, the production vehicle if the program had proceeded would have been designated as the M975).

The Roland is a Franco-German mobile short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. The Roland was also purchased by the U.S. Army as one of very few foreign SAM systems.