Chinook Losses due to SA-7 Missile Attack

 

         
File Photo: Image of Russian made SA-7 Strela anti-aircraft heat seeking missile. The SA-7a (9K32M Strela-2) went into service in 1968, but was soon replaced by the more advanced SA-7b (9K32M Strela-2M) which was to become the primary production model and was produced in the greatest numbers. The SA-7b, differed from the SA-7a by its more potent propellant charge which increase its range and its speed. The SA-7a had a slant range of 3.6 km and an its operational altitude went from a minimum of 20 meters to a maximum of 1500 meters altitude. Its speed was about Mach 1.4. The SA-7b increased the slant range to about 4.2 km and the ceiling to some 2300 meters. The speed of the SA-7b increased to Mach 1.75. Both the SA-7a and SA-7b were limited to a tail-chase and rely upon a fairly crude sensor to lock onto IR emissions from the target aircraft which can be jet or piston engined fixed wing or rotary and were never modified to rely upon other kinds of radiation to increase reliability
   As of December 2003, a total of 6 CH-47 Chinook helicopters have been shot down by shoulder fired SA-7 infra-red heat seeking missiles. Five were CH-47A Chinook helicopters operated by the Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) in the RVN. One was a CH-47D operated by the U.S. Army in Iraq during the "War on Terrorism".

 

             The following is a list of CH-47 Chinook helicopters that have been shot down by the shoulder fired SA-7 Heat Seeking Missile:

 

          64-13143
           
          65-07987
           
          66-00091
           
          66-19010
           
          66-19056
           
          91-00230

 

 

          The CH-47 - 40 years old and still circling the world.

         

          <bgsound src="../../common/ade.mid" loop=infinite>

          Comments or Questions ? Email the Webmaster. Email the Webmaster.