An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000-5,500 km (1,865-3,420 miles), between a medium-range ballistic missile and an intercontinental ballistic missile. 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. 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, or LRBM, to describe missiles with a range between IRBMs and true ICBMs. IRBMs are currently operated by France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Russia, China, India and North Korea. Iran, Israel and Pakistan are said to be developing them.

Examples of IRBMs include:

• Agni III - India
• Dong-Feng 4 - PRC
• Jericho missile - Israel
• Taepodong-1 - North Korea
• Taepodong-2 - North Korea
• Ghauri-III - Pakistan (under development)

Alternative use of launchers

IRBMs are frequently turned into small satellite launchers via the addition of (usually multiple) upper stages. In the United States, this happened to both the Thor and Jupiter. A derivative of the Redstone, the Jupiter-C launched the U.S.'s first satellite, Explorer 1.

History

The progenitor for the IRBM was the A4b rocket winged for increased range and based on the famous V2 (Vergeltung, or "Reprisal", officially called A4) rocket designed by Wernher von Braun that widely used by Nazi Germany at the end of World War II to bomb English and Belgian cities and goals. Also as the first IRBM may be considered separate second stage A9 of ballistic missile A9/A10 rocket. A4b and A9 rockets were tested few times in December 1944 and January and February 1945. All of these rockets used liquid propellant. A4b used an inertial guidance system, A9 controlled by pilot. They started from a non-mobile launch pad. Following WWII 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 V2 into the weapon for the United States.

See also

• Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty