Short-range ballistic missile
Encyclopedia
A short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) is a ballistic missile
with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapon
s. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost and ease of configuration. In modern terminology, SRBMs are part of the wider grouping of theatre ballistic missile
s, which includes any ballistic missile with a range of less than 3,500 km.
Ballistic missile
A ballistic missile is a missile that follows a sub-orbital ballistic flightpath with the objective of delivering one or more warheads to a predetermined target. The missile is only guided during the relatively brief initial powered phase of flight and its course is subsequently governed by the...
with a range of about 1,000 km or less. They are usually capable of carrying nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s. In potential regional conflicts, these missiles would be used because of the short distances between some countries and their relative low cost and ease of configuration. In modern terminology, SRBMs are part of the wider grouping of theatre ballistic missile
Theatre ballistic missile
A theatre ballistic missile is any ballistic missile with a range between and , used against targets "in-theatre". Its range is thus between that of tactical and intercontinental ballistic missiles. The term is a relatively new one, encompassing the former categories of short-range ballistic...
s, which includes any ballistic missile with a range of less than 3,500 km.
Specific SRBMs
- V-2 missileV-2 rocketThe V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
(320 km) in World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Nazi Germany - Pluton (missile)Pluton (missile)The Pluton missile was a French nuclear-armed short-range ballistic missile system launched from a transporter erector launcher platform mounted on an AMX 30 tank chassis. It was designed to provide the tactical part of French nuclear deterrence during the Cold War.The Pluton came in replacement...
(120 km) - Hadès (missile)Hadès (missile)The Hadès system was a short-range ballistic pre-strategic nuclear weapon system designed by France, as a last warning before use of strategic nuclear weapons, in the perspective of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe...
(480 km) - 9K720 Iskander (400 km) (RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
)
- SS-1 Scud (300–700 km) (Soviet UnionSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
)
- DF-11/M-11 (350 km) (ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
)
- DF-15DF-15The Dong-Feng 15 is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is the only non-nuclear missile being used by the People's Liberation Army Second Artillery Corps. The U.S...
(600 km) (China) - Prithvi missilePrithvi missilePrithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.- Development and History :...
(IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
)
- Prithvi IPrithvi missilePrithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.- Development and History :...
(150 km)(IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) - Prithvi IIPrithvi missilePrithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.- Development and History :...
(250–350 km) (IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) - Prithvi IIIPrithvi missilePrithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.- Development and History :...
(350–750 km)(IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
)
- Prithvi I
- Agni I (700–800 km) (IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) - ShauryaShaurya missileThe Shaurya missile is a canister launched Hypersonic surface-to-surface tactical missile developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization for use by the Indian Armed Forces. It has a range of between 750 to 1900 km and is capable of carrying a payload of one ton...
(600–700 km) (IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) - Ghaznavi (missile) (290 km) (PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
)
- AbdaliAbdali-IFor Ahmed Shah Abdali please see Ahmed Shah AbdaliAbdali-I is a short-range ballistic missile , developed by Pakistan and currently in service of Pakistan's armed forces...
(200 km) (PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
) - Jericho I (500 km) (IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
)
- Fateh-110Fateh-110The Fateh-110 , is a single-stage solid-propellant, surface-to-surface missile with at least a 200 km range, and it is produced domestically within Iran, including the solid fuel propellant. The Aerospace Industries Organization is capable of producing many types of liquid and solid propellants...
(250 km) (IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
)
- Shahab-2Shahab-2The Shahab-2 is the successor to the Iranian Shahab-1 missile.The missile has a CEP of 50 m. On November 2, 2006, Iran fired unarmed missiles to begin 10 days of military simulations. Iranian state television reported "dozens of missiles were fired including Shahab-2 and Shahab-3 missiles...
(700 km) (IranIranIran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) - J-600T Yıldırım IJ-600T missileProject J is a Turkish Armed Forces program intended to develop a series of tactical and theatre ballistic missiles with a range of 150 to 300 km....
(150 km) (TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
)
- J-600T Yıldırım IIJ-600T missileProject J is a Turkish Armed Forces program intended to develop a series of tactical and theatre ballistic missiles with a range of 150 to 300 km....
(300 km) (Turkey) - HyunmooHyunmooHyunmoo was a series of missiles developed by South Korea.Through reverse-engineering of US supplied missiles, South Korea produced two versions of a two-stage, solid-fuel SSM based on the US Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile: NHK-1/Paekkom and NHK-2...
(Republic of Korea)
- Hyunmoo-1HyunmooHyunmoo was a series of missiles developed by South Korea.Through reverse-engineering of US supplied missiles, South Korea produced two versions of a two-stage, solid-fuel SSM based on the US Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile: NHK-1/Paekkom and NHK-2...
(180–250 km) - Hyunmoo-2HyunmooHyunmoo was a series of missiles developed by South Korea.Through reverse-engineering of US supplied missiles, South Korea produced two versions of a two-stage, solid-fuel SSM based on the US Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile: NHK-1/Paekkom and NHK-2...
(300–500 km)
- Hyunmoo-1
- Sky SpearSky SpearThe Sky Spear short-range ballistic missile is a Taiwanese short-range ballistic missile capable of striking targets on mainland China. Derived from the Sky Bow II surface-to-air missile), the Tien Chi has a two-stage booster that extends over the single-stage Tien Kung-2...
(~120 km) (Taiwan (ROC)Republic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
)
- MGM-52 Lance (70–120 km) (USA)
- PGM-11 Redstone (92–323 km) (USA)
See also
- Medium-range ballistic missileMedium-range ballistic missileA medium-range ballistic missile , is a type of ballistic missile with medium range, this last classification depending on the standards of certain organizations. Within the U.S. Department of Defense, a medium range missile is defined by having a maximum range of between 1,000 and 3,000 km1...
(MRBM) - Intermediate-range ballistic missileIntermediate-range ballistic missileAn intermediate-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km , between a medium-range ballistic missile and an intercontinental ballistic missile...
(IRBM) - Intercontinental ballistic missileIntercontinental ballistic missileAn intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
(ICBM)