The Rafael Shafrir 1 and Shafrir 2 are short-range air-to-air missile

Air-to-air missile

An air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...

s (AAMs) developed by the Israeli arms manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, formerly RAFAEL Armament Development Authority.

The Shafrir is also the predecessor to the Python AAM. After the Shafrir 2, the next missile was named Python-3. For more information, please see Python missile entry.

Shafrir 1

The Shafrir 1 was developed in 1959-1964 to fulfill IAF's requirement for a domestic air-to-air missile. It was intended to build-up domestic defense industry's ability, and reduce reliance on foreign imports. The fear of foreign dependence was later proven when France banned arms export to Israel.

The Shafrir 1 was intended for use on French-built Mirage jets. The first testing took place in France in 1963. However the missile's performance was so poor that they immediately started on the next improved version, the Shafrir 2. http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/missile_systems/air_missiles/python/Python1.html

• Length - 250 cm (2.5 m)
• Span - 55 cm
• Diameter - 14 cm
• Weight - 65 kg
• Guidance - IR
• Warhead - 11 kg blast explosive, later 30 kg
• Range - 5 km
• Speed - Mach 2 (2,120 km/h, 1,320 mph)

Shafrir 2

The Shafrir was credited with 89 kills in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. During its whole service life, the Shafrir 2 is credited with destroying a total of 106 aircraft.

• Length - 250 cm (2.5 m)
• Span - 55 cm
• Diameter - 15 cm
• Weight - 93 kg
• Guidance - IR
• Warhead - 11 kg
• Range - 5 km
• Speed - ??

Operators

 Ecuador
 Honduras
 Republic of China

External links

• Shafrir 2