NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Python missile

The Python is a family of air-to-air missiles (AAMs) built by the Israeli weapons manufacturing company RAFAEL Armament Development Authority. The first was the Shafrir-1 missile developed in 1959, followed by the Shafrir-2 in early 1970s. Afterwards the missiles were given the western name of "Python", starting with Python-3 in 1978. Image File history File links Aams. ... RAFAEL logo RAFAEL Armament Development Authority, known as RAFAEL or Rafael, (also spelled as Raphael or Rephael, and in Hebrew: ×¨×¤××œ - ×¨×©×•×ª ×œ×¤×™×ª×•×— ××ž×¦×¢×™ ×œ×—×™×ž×”) is the Israeli authority for development of weapons and military technology. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... A warhead is an explosive device used in military conflicts, used to destroy enemy vehicles or buildings. ... The Israeli Air Force (IAF) (Hebrew: ×–×¨×•×¢ ×”××•×•×™×¨ ×•×”×—×œ×œ Zroa HaAvir VeHaá¸¤alal, literally Air and Space Arm) is the air force of the Israel Defense Forces and currently operates around 900 aircraft. ... The F-15I is an aircraft deployed by the Israeli Air Force where it is known as the Raam (×¨×¢× - Thunder). It is a dual seat ground attack aircraft powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines, and is based on the F-15 series of aircraft. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... A US Navy VF-103 Jolly Rogers F-14 Tomcat fighter launchers an AIM-54 Phoenix long-range air-to-air missile. ... RAFAEL logo RAFAEL Armament Development Authority, known as RAFAEL or Rafael, (also spelled as Raphael or Rephael, and in Hebrew: ×¨×¤××œ - ×¨×©×•×ª ×œ×¤×™×ª×•×— ××ž×¦×¢×™ ×œ×—×™×ž×”) is the Israeli authority for development of weapons and military technology. ...

History

In the 1950s, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) submitted requirements for a domestically-made air-to-air missile, to promote domestic defense industry as well as reducing reliance to imports. Rafael Armament Development Authority was contracted to develop the Shafrir in 1959. The missile entered operational status with Israeli Mirage jets in 1963, but the IAF was unhappy with its performance. Soon, the improved Shafrir-2 was made, and it proved to be one of the most successful, and deadly missiles ever made. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the IAF launched 176 Shafrir-2 missiles, destroying 89 enemy aircraft. [1] The Shafrir-2 was exported along with Israeli-made aircraft to South American countries.

After the Shafrir-2, new missiles made by Rafael was given the western name of Python. This is why the next missile built by Rafael in early 1970s was named Python-3, but there is no Python-1 or Python-2 (they were Shafrir-1/Shafrir-2). The Python-3 has improved range and all-aspect attack capability, it proved itself before & during the 1982 Lebanon War, shooting down 35 enemy aircraft. The People's Republic of China was impressed with its performance and license-built the Python-3 as the PL-8 AAM.

Further improvements on the Python-3, lead to the development of Python-4 in mid 1980's. The Python-4 had limited "fire and forget" capability, as well as helmet-sight guidance. [2] In the 1990s Rafael started development on the Python-5 AAM, which was equipped with an advanced electro-optical imaging seeker with lock-on after-launch capability. [3] The new missile was show-cased in 2003 Paris Air Show, and intended for service with IAF F15i Ra'am("Thunder") and the F16i Sufa("Storm"). Image File history File links Aams2. ... Image File history File links Aams2. ...

The Python-5 is said to have "full sphere capability", meaning it can be launched at a target regardless of the target's location relative to the direction of the launching aircraft. It can lock on to the target after launch, and can do so to a target 100 degrees off boresight.

Version

Shafrir 1

The Shafrir 1 was developed in 1959-1964 to fulfil IAF's requirement for a domestic air-to-air missile. It was intended to build-up domestic defense industry's capability, as well as reducing reliance on foreign imports. The fear on 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. [4]

Shafrir 2

Perhaps the most deadly AAM ever built by Israel, the Shafrir was credited with 89 kills in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. [5] During its entire service life, the Shafrir 2 is credited with shooting down a total of 106 kills.

Python 3

The Python-3 is a much-improved AAM with all-aspect attack capability, better speed, range, and performance. It performed well before and during the 1982 Lebanon War, scoring 35 (some sources claim 50) kills. [6]

China's PLAAF was quite impressed with this missile, and paid for licensed production as the PL-8 AAM in 1980s. [7] The program code named "Number 8 Project" (八号工程) and formally started on September 15, 1983. From March 1988 to April 1989, technology transfer to China was complete while license assembly and license built parts continued, and by the spring of 1989, the complete domestic Chinese built missile received state certification. The major supplier of the missile was Xi'an Eastern Machinery Factory (西安东方机械厂) located at Xi'an and China is also reported to have developed a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system for the PL-8. September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Xian (Chinese: ; Pinyin: XÄ«Än; Wade-Giles: Hsi-An; Postal System Pinyin: Sian), is the capital of Shaanxi province in China and a sub-provincial city. ...

Python 4

The Python-4 is a 4th generation AAM with all-aspect attack capability, and integration withy helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system. [8] It entered service in the 1990s with Elbit DASH (Display and sight helmet) HMS system for Israeli F-15 and F-16s. The missile's seeker is reported to use multiple detector array, with IRCCM (IR ECCM) capability to reduce background IR radiation to reduce the effectiveness of enemy flares. [9]

Python 5

The Python 5 is currently the most capable short-range AAM in Israel's inventory. It has BVR (beyond visual range), LOAL (lock-on after launch), and all-aspect, all-direction (including backward) attack capability. The missile has an advanced electro-optical imaging seeker that scans the target area for hostile aircraft, then locks-on for terminal chase. [10]

Derby

Also known as the Alto, the Derby missile is a BVR, medium-range (~50 km) active-radar seeker missile. Though technically not part of the "Python" family, the missile is basically an enlarged Python-4 with an active-radar seeker. [11]

See also

Sidewinder Missile The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. ... IRIS-T (Infra Red Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled) is a German-led program to develop a short-range air-to-air missile to replace the AIM-9 Sidewinder. ... The AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile is a British air-to-air missile with infra-red guidance. ... Below is a list of (links to pages on) missiles, sorted alphabetically by name. ...

External links

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