Nimrod (missile)
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Nimrod is an exceptionally long-range anti-tank guided missile developed by Israel Aerospace Industries. It provides standoff strike capability against a verity of point targets such as tanks, APCs, ships, bunkers, personnel concentrations and guerrillas.
Nimrod has a semi-active laser guidance system, capable of day and night operation. Its flight trajectory can be set below obscuring cloud layer, while a forward scouting team uses a laser designator to direct it from up to 26 km behind.
Nimrod may be installed on a variety of towed launchers, Light Combat Vehicle launchers, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. The primary helicopter launch platform for the Nimrod in the Israel Defense Forces is a modified CH-53 helicopter; this is not only due to the large size and weight of the Nimrod missile, but because the CH-53 is a common delivery vehicle for Israeli special operations teams. The launching vehicle or aircraft may fire up to 4 Nimrods at once from a single pack.
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[edit] Versions
Two versions of Nimrod exist: the standard ground-launched, 26 km maximum range version; and the lighter, 20 km maximum range version meant primarily for helicopter and light aircraft launches.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Characteristics
- Effective range: 300 - 26,000 meters
- Length: 265 cm
- Span 40 cm
- Weight: 90 kg
- Speed: ~2000 km/h
- Propulsion: single stage solid rocket motor
- Guidance: Semi-Active Laser Homing
- Warhead: HEAT, Fragmentation-HE, thermobaric
[edit] Comparable systems
[edit] Notes
Nimrod is sometimes nicknamed Balistra - for exporting purpose.
