Seacat (missile)

Seacat
Seacat GWS-20 series missile
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1962–present
Used by	See operators
Wars	1971 Indo-Pakistani War Iran–Iraq War Falklands War South African Border War
Production history
Designer	Short Brothers
Manufacturer	Short Brothers
Variants	See variants
Specifications
Mass	68 kg (150 lb)
Length	1.48 m (58 in)
Diameter	0.22 m (8.7 in)
Wingspan	0.70 m (28 in)
Warhead	40 lb (18 kg) continuous-rod warhead
Detonation mechanism	Proximity
Engine	2 stage motor
Operational range	500–5,000 m (1,600–16,400 ft) or more
Maximum speed	Mach 0.8
Guidance system	CLOS and radio link
Steering system	Control surfaces
Launch platform	Ship

Seacat was a British short-range surface-to-air missile system intended to replace the ubiquitous Bofors 40 mm gun aboard warships of all sizes. It was the world's first operational shipboard point-defence missile system, and was designed so that the Bofors guns could be replaced with minimum modification to the recipient vessel and (originally) using existing fire-control systems. A mobile land-based version of the system was known as Tigercat.

The initial GWS.20 version was manually controlled, in keeping with the need for a rapidly developed and deployed system. Several variants followed; GWS.21 added radar-cued manual control for night and bad-weather use, GWS.22 added a SACLOS automatic guidance mode, and the final GWS.24 had fully automatic engagement. Tigercat saw relatively brief service before being replaced in British service by the Rapier, while Seacat saw longer service until being replaced by Sea Wolf and newer technology close-in weapons systems.

Seacat and Tigercat were both successful in the export market and some remain in service.