Roland was a surface-to-air missile system that was designed to provide short-range defense against aircraft attacking at low levels. Effective against both low- and high-speed aircraft and against helicopters, the system consisted of 10 supersonic missiles and fire control equipment. It could detect targets about 10 miles away. After launching, computer-processed information and radar signals guided the missiles to their targets. Although the system was originally developed by a French-German consortium, in January 1975, the Army contracted with Boeing and Hughes Aircraft to transfer the European technology so prototypes could be developed and tested.