From 1959 to 1966, Contraves, along with many other Swiss companies, developed the Kriens, while drawing on the experience of the guided missile system RSC / D, RSD 58.

The missile project was funded by both private Swiss companies, as well as the federal government, and was developed up to production-ready stage.

However, after introduction of the British Bristol Bloodhound as the BL-64 the project was cancelled by the EMD, and the missile was never mass-produced, neither for Switzerland nor for another nation.

The 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.

Contraves built the research rocket Zenit-C using their experience and expertise from designing the Kriens.