France Delivers 2 Crotale NG Air Defense Systems

France has confirmed that it sent two batteries of 12 Crotale NG air defense missile systems owned by the French Air Force and two Multiple Launch Rocket Systems to Ukraine.

Sebastien Lecornu, the French defense minister, revealed this in an interview with French publication Le Journal du Dimanche.

The French air defense system will join the German IRIS-T and American NASAMS already in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

Developed by Thales, the Crotale NG is an all-weather short-range and multi-sensor air defense system. The various subsystems of Crotale NG are integrated into a single platform, which makes Crotale a stable and compact platform. The air defense system houses both radars and infrared sensors to provide the best view of the airborne targets.

The latest upgrade of the Crotale NG features an advanced thermal camera for reliable real-time imaging during day and night.

The warhead carrying capacity of the system is 13kg. The weapon system can launch the warhead at a maximum speed of Mach 3.5 to hit targets 11km away.

The Crotale NG system provides air situation and threat assessment, extended detection range, identification friend or foe (IFF), multi-target detection plus automated acquisition, tracking and engagement and all-weather operation. The data exchange capability provides integration of the Crotale NG into a global air defense scheme.