Intermediate-range ballistic missile
{{Short description|Ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km}}
{{Redirect|LRBM|the airport using that ICAO code|Baia Mare Airport}}
{{Distinguish|Medium-range ballistic missile}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2022}}
File:Agni-IV 2014 (cropped).jpg, Odisha, India.]]
An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range between {{no wrap|3,000 to 5,500 km}} ({{no wrap|1,864 to 3,418 miles}}), categorized between a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of Aviation |first=David W. |last=Wragg |isbn=0-85045-163-9 |publisher=Frederick Fell, Inc. |publication-place=New York |date=1974 |edition=1st American |page=166}} Classifying ballistic missiles by range is done mostly for convenience. In principle there is little difference between a high-performance IRBM and a low-performance ICBM, because decreasing payload mass can increase the range over the ICBM threshold. The range definition used here is used within the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
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 hitting New York, when launched from France or Spain (see Amerika Bomber).
A4b rockets were tested a few times in December 1944 and January and February 1945.{{cite web |url=http://www.v2werk-oberraderach.de/Irrtuemer/5-I.htm |title=Die geflügelte Rakete (A7, A9, A4b) (in German) |publisher=V2werk-oberraderach.de |access-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719111841/http://www.v2werk-oberraderach.de/Irrtuemer/5-I.htm |archive-date=2011-07-19 }} 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.{{cn|date=June 2022}}
IRBMs are currently{{when?|date=June 2022}} operated by the People's Republic of China, India,{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Indian-Army-Successfully-Test-Fires-Nuke-Capable-Agni-IV-Missile/2015/11/09/article3121243.ece|title=Indian Army Successfully Test Fires Nuke-Capable Agni-IV Missile|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2016-03-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405175541/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Indian-Army-Successfully-Test-Fires-Nuke-Capable-Agni-IV-Missile/2015/11/09/article3121243.ece|archive-date=2016-04-05}}{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ballistic-missile-Agni-IV-test-fired-as-part-of-user-trial/articleshow/49720522.cms|title=Ballistic missile Agni-IV test-fired as part of user trial |website=The Times of India|date=9 November 2015 |access-date=2016-03-25|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121044007/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ballistic-missile-Agni-IV-test-fired-as-part-of-user-trial/articleshow/49720522.cms|archive-date=2016-01-21}} Israel, North Korea,{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/Missile_Issue_Brief.pdf|title=North Korea's Ballistic Missile Program|website=National Committee on North Korea|access-date=2016-04-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222051359/http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/Missile_Issue_Brief.pdf|archive-date=2016-02-22}} and Russia.{{Cite web |title=Ukraine war latest: Putin says Russia hit Ukraine with new intermediate-range ballistic missile |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c20726y20kvt?post=asset:47fd8644-8538-475d-a3cc-6f5714f0d191#post |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Putin says Russia struck Ukraine’s Dnipro with new experimental ballistic missile |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2024/11/21/putin-says-russia-struck-ukraine-s-dnipro-with-new-experimental-ballistic-missile |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Meduza |language=en}} The United States, USSR, Pakistan, United Kingdom, and France were former operators.{{cn|date=June 2022}}
Nomenclature
There is no clearly agreed-upon distinction between an intermediate-range and a medium range (MRBM) missile, and the categories overlap. Different sources 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.{{cn|date=June 2022}}
Specific IRBMs
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ IRBMs | ||||
| Date *D
! Model ! Range km ! Maximum km ! class="wikitable sortable" | Country | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | PGM-17 Thor | 2,400 | 3,000 | {{flagu|United States}}, {{flagu|United Kingdom}} |
| 2023 | Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon | 2775 | unknown | {{flagu|United States}} |
| Cancelled | Blue Streak | 3,700 | {{flagu|United Kingdom}} | |
| 1962 | R-14 Chusovaya (SS-5) | 3,700 | {{flagu|Soviet Union}} | |
| 1970 | DF-3A | 4,000 | 5,000 | {{flagu|China}}, {{flagu|Saudi Arabia}} |
| 1976 | RSD-10 Pioneer (SS-20) | 5,500 | {{flagu|Soviet Union}} | |
| 1980 | S3 (missile) | 3,500 | {{flagu|France}} | |
| 2004 | DF-25 | 3,200 | 4,000 | {{flagu|China}} |
| 2006 | Agni-III | 3,500 | 5,000 | {{flagu|India}} |
| 2007 | DF-26 | 3,500 | 5,000 | {{flagu|China}} |
| 2007 | Shahab-5 | 4,000 | 4,300 (not proven) | {{flagu|Iran}} |
| 2010 | Hwasong-10 (Musudan/BM-25) | 2,500 | 4,000 (not proven) | {{flagu|North Korea}}{{cite web |url=http://missilethreat.com/missiles/agni-3/?country=india#india |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140422195940/http://missilethreat.com/missiles/agni-3/?country=india%23india |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 22, 2014 |title=Ballistic Missiles of the World |publisher=MissileThreat |access-date=2011-07-15 }} |
| 2010 | K-4{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/05/india-inches-closer-to-credible-nuclear-triad-with-k-4-slbm-test/|title = India Inches Closer to Credible Nuclear Triad with K-4 SLBM Test}} | 3,500 | {{flagu|India}} | |
| 2011 | Agni-IV | 4,000 | {{flagu|India}} | |
| 2017 | Hwasong-12 (KN-17) | 3,700 | 6,000 | {{flagu|North Korea}} |
| 2023 | Hyunmoo-5 | 3,000 | 5,500 | {{flagu|South Korea}} |
| 2024 | Hwasong-16B | 1,100 (ROK telemetry)
1,500 (DPRK claimed) | unknown | {{flagu|North Korea}} | |
| 2024 | Oreshnik | unknown | unknown | {{flagu|Russia}} |
| 2011 | RS-26 Rubezh | unknown | 5,800 | {{flagu|Russia}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Missile types}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile}}