RSE Kriens (missile)


RSE Kriens was a Swiss-developed air defence missile. It never entered service. Kriens stands for the village in the canton of Lucerne Kriens.

Design and development

From 1959 to 1966 Contraves developed -along with many other Swiss companies - the Kriens drawing on the experience of the guided missile system RSC / D, RSD 58. The missile project was funded by Swiss industry and the federal government, and was developed up to production-ready stage. The first flight was on 23 March 1964.
The modular system used advanced technology for the ground equipment and the missiles. The whole system could be interconnected to a multi-part cluster, which included several radars and missile launchers. After introduction of the British Bristol Bloodhound as the BL-64 the project was cancelled by the EMD. For export, the system was given the name 'Micon' but the missile was never mass-produced, either for Switzerland nor for another nation
A launcher with two missiles is held at the Flieger-Flab-Museum. Contraves used the technical/technological experience/expertise gained, for the buildup of the research rocket Zenit-C.
The fire unit consists of: measuring radar, 1-3 radio collars, 4 launchers, command car, trolley and several units. Trolley, command car, tracking device and aggregates were individually housed on single-axle trailers, the measuring radar and missile launchers on each two-axle trailers.