Nimrod (missile)
Nimrod is a long-range air-to-surface and surface-to-surface missile developed by Israel Aerospace Industries. While primarily designed for anti-tank use, it provides standoff strike capability against a variety of point targets such as 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 layers, 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 relatively 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.
Versions
Currently two versions of Nimrod exist:
- Long Range, Dual Mode Missile – NIMROD 2 A dual mode Laser/GPS Homing missile, the Nimrod 2 has a range of 36KM and features a mobile launcher. The warhead is 14kg, and the missile can support various warheads for a variety of targets.
- Long Range, Dual Mode Missile – NIMROD 3 A dual mode Laser/GPS Homing missile, the Nimrod 3 has a range of 10-50KM and can support various warheads for a wide range of targets. It also has a mobile launcher.
Operators
Characteristics
- Effective range: 300 - 36,000 meters
- Length: 265 cm
- Span 40 cm
- Weight: 96 kg
- Speed: ~2000 km/h
- Propulsion: single stage solid rocket motor
- Guidance: Semi-Active Laser Homing
- Warhead: HEAT, Fragmentation-HE, thermobaric
See also
Comparable systems
References
External links
- Nimrod at IAI official site
- Nimrod (Mikhol, Mikholit) missile at Jane's
- Nimrod 3 extended range at Deagel.com
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