120 Squadron SAAF
| 120 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Cactus surface-air missile system as used by 120 Squadron | |
| Country |  |
| Branch | South African Air Force |
| Role | Missile based air defence |
120 Squadron SAAF was a South African Air Force squadron formed in 1970 to operate the South African/French Cactus surface to air missile systems in an air defence role. the unit was disbanded when the Cactus system was removed from service in the late 1980's.
History
Cactus missile system
In July 1964, South Africa placed a development contract with Thomson-CSF for a mobile, all-weather, low-altitude SAM system after a South African order for theBloodhound SAM system was refused by the UK government. [1] The South African government paid 85 per cent of the development costs of the system with the balance being paid for by France. The system was known as "Cactus" within the SAAF and "Crotale" in France. The units were operationally deployed in platoons in 1971 with each platoon consisting of one Acquisition and Co-ordination Unit (ACU) and two or three firing units, with a battery having two platoons. All Cactus air defence batteries were placed under command of 120 Squadron until the retirement of the system in the late 1980's. [2]
References
- Footnotes
- Citations
- ^ "Jane's Information Group". Crotale/Shahine/R440, R460, VT-1 (France), Defensive weapons. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ Wingrin, Dean. "SAAF.co.za". Cactus (Crotale) SAM. Retrieved 16 August 2012.