Intermediate-range ballistic missile

Short description: Ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km

IRBM and MRBM missiles.

An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km (1,864–3,418 miles), between a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).[1] Classifying ballistic missiles by range is done mostly for convenience; in principle there is very little difference between a low-performance ICBM and a high-performance IRBM, because decreasing payload mass can increase range over ICBM threshold. The range definition used here is used within the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. Some other sources include an additional category, the long-range ballistic missile (LRBM), to describe missiles with a range between IRBMs and true ICBMs. The more modern term theatre ballistic missile encompasses MRBMs and SRBMs, including any ballistic missile with a range under 3,500 km (2,175 mi).

The progenitor for the IRBM was the A4b winged rocket, based on the V-2 (officially called A4) rocket used by Nazi Germany at the end of World War II.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Nomenclature
* 3 Specific IRBMs
* 4 See also
* 5 References

## History

The progenitor for the IRBM was the A4b rocket winged for increased range and based on the famous V-2 (Vergeltung, or "Reprisal", officially called A4) rocket designed by Wernher von Braun; the V-2 was widely used by Nazi Germany at the end of World War II to bomb English and Belgian cities. The A4b was the prototype for the upper stage of the A9/A10 rocket. The goal of the program was to build a missile capable of bombarding New York when launched in France or Spain (see Amerika Bomber). A4b rockets were tested a few times in December 1944 and January and February 1945.[2] All of these rockets used liquid propellant. The A4b used an inertial guidance system, while the A9 would have been controlled by a pilot. They started from a non-mobile launch pad.

Following World War II von Braun and other lead Nazi scientists were secretly transferred to the United States to work directly for the U.S. Army through Operation Paperclip developing the V-2 into the weapon for the United States.[citation needed]

IRBMs are currently[when?] operated by the People's Republic of China, India,[3][4] Israel, and North Korea.[5] The United States, USSR, Pakistan, United Kingdom, and France were former operators.[citation needed]

## Nomenclature

There is no clearly agreed-upon distinction between an intermediate-range and a medium range (MRBM) missile, and the categories overlap. Different sources will classify missiles in different ways. They are both distinct from ICBMs in that they have a range that is less than intercontinental, and hence must be based relatively close to the target. An IRBM, in general, is intended as a strategic weapon, while a MRBM, in general, is intended as a theatre ballistic missile.[citation needed]

## Specific IRBMs

IRBMs Date *D | Model  | Range km  | Maximum km  | Country

|
|
|
|

1959 | PGM-17 Thor | 1,900 | 2,400 |  United States,  United Kingdom
Cancelled | Blue Streak | 3,700 |  |  United Kingdom
1962 | R-14 Chusovaya (SS-5) | 3,700 |  |  Soviet Union
1970 | DF-3A | 4,000 | 5,000 |  China,  Saudi Arabia
1976 | RSD-10 Pioneer (SS-20) | 5,500 |  |  Soviet Union
1980 | S3 (missile) | 3,500 |  |  France
2004 | DF-25 | 3,200 | 4,000 |  China
2006 | Agni-III | 3,500 | 5,000 |  India
2007 | DF-26 | 3,500 | 5,000 |  China
2010 | Hwasong-10/RD-B Musudan | 2,500 | 4,000 (not proven) |  North Korea[6]
2011 | Agni-IV | 4,000 |  |  India
2010 | K-4[7] | 3,500 |  |  India
2017 | Hwasong-12/KN-17 | 3,700 | 6,000 |  North Korea
2007 | Shahab-5 | 4,000 | 4,300 |  Iran
2023 | Hyunmoo-5 | 3,000 | 5,500 |  South Korea
2024 | Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon |  | over 2875 |  United States

## See also

* Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
* ICBM
* List of ICBMs
* Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM)
* Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)
* Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)
* Anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM)
* Hypersonic cruise missile
* Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

## References

1. ↑ Wragg, David W. (1974). A Dictionary of Aviation (1st American ed.). New York: Frederick Fell, Inc.. p. 166. ISBN 0-85045-163-9.
2. ↑ "Die geflügelte Rakete ( A7, A9, A4b ) (in German)". V2werk-oberraderach.de. http://www.v2werk-oberraderach.de/Irrtuemer/5-I.htm.
3. ↑ "Indian Army Successfully Test Fires Nuke-Capable Agni-IV Missile". http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Indian-Army-Successfully-Test-Fires-Nuke-Capable-Agni-IV-Missile/2015/11/09/article3121243.ece.
4. ↑ "Ballistic missile Agni-IV test-fired as part of user trial - Times of India". http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ballistic-missile-Agni-IV-test-fired-as-part-of-user-trial/articleshow/49720522.cms.
5. ↑ "North Korea's Ballistic Missile Program". http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/Missile_Issue_Brief.pdf.
6. ↑ "Ballistic Missiles of the World". MissileThreat. http://missilethreat.com/missiles/agni-3/?country=india#india. [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
7. ↑ "India Inches Closer to Credible Nuclear Triad with K-4 SLBM Test". https://thediplomat.com/2014/05/india-inches-closer-to-credible-nuclear-triad-with-k-4-slbm-test/.

* v
* t
* e

Types of missiles

By platform|

* Cruise missile
* Air-launched cruise missile (ALCM)
* Submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM)
* Air-to-air missile (AAM)
* Air-to-surface missile (ASM)
* Surface-to-air missile (SAM)
* Surface-to-surface missile (SSM)
* Ballistic missile
* Air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM)
* Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM)
* Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM)
* Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM)
* Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM)
* Tactical ballistic missile
* Theatre ballistic missile
* Submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM)
* Standoff missile
* Loitering munition
* Shoulder-fired missile
* Hypersonic glide vehicle
* Beyond-visual-range missile (BVR)

By target type|

* Anti-ballistic missile (ABM)
* Anti-satellite weapon (ASAT)
* Anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM)
* Anti-ship missile (AShM)
* Anti-submarine missile
* Anti-tank missile (ATGM)
* Land-attack missile (LACM)
* Man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS)

By guidance|

* Unguided
* Radar guidance
* Radar altimeter
* Active radar guidance (ARH)
* Semi-active radar guidance (SAHR)
* Passive radar
* Passive homing
* Track-via-missile (TVM)
* Anti-radiation (ARM)
* Command guidance
* Command to line-of-sight guidance (CLOS)
* Command off line-of-sight guidance (COLOS)
* Manual command to line of sight (MCLOS)
* Semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS)
* Automatic command to line-of-sight (ACLOS)
* Pursuit guidance
* Q-guidance
* Beam riding (LOSBR)
* Infrared guidance
* Laser guidance
* Wire guidance
* Satellite guidance
* Inertial guidance
* Astro-inertial guidance
* Terrestrial guidance
* TERPROM
* TERCOM
* DSMAC
* Terminal guidance
* Automatic target recognition (ATR)
* Radio guidance
* TV guidance
* Contrast seeker
* Compass
* Fire-and-forget

Lists|

* List of military rockets
* List of missiles
* List of missiles by country
* List of anti-ship missiles
* List of anti-tank missiles
* List of ICBMs
* List of surface-to-air missiles

See also: Sounding rocket

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