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Anintermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is aballistic missile with arange between3,000 to 5,500 km (1,864 to 3,418 miles), categorized between amedium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) and anintercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).[1] Classifying ballistic missiles by range is done mostly for convenience. In principle there is little difference between a high-performance IRBM and a low-performance ICBM, because decreasing payload mass can increase the range over the ICBM threshold. The range definition used here is used within the U.S.Missile Defense Agency.
The progenitor for the IRBM was theA4b rocket, winged for increased range and based on the famousV-2, Vergeltung, or "Reprisal", officially calledA4, rocket designed byWernher von Braun. The V-2 was widely used byNazi Germany at the end of World War II to bomb English and Belgian cities. The A4b was the prototype for the upper stage of theA9/A10 rocket. The goal of the program was to build a missile capable of hitting New York, when launched from France or Spain (seeAmerika Bomber).[2]
A4b rockets were tested a few times in December 1944 and January and February 1945.[2] All of these rockets usedliquid propellant. The A4b used aninertial guidance system, while the A9 would have been controlled by a pilot. They started from a non-mobilelaunch pad.
Following World War II, von Braun and other leadNazi scientists were secretly transferred to the United States, to work directly for the U.S. Army throughOperation Paperclip, developing the V-2 into the weapon for the United States.[citation needed]
IRBMs are currently[when?] operated by the People's Republic of China, India,[3][4] Israel, North Korea,[5] and Russia.[6][7] The United States, USSR, Pakistan, United Kingdom, and France were former operators.[citation needed]
There is no clearly agreed-upon distinction between an intermediate-range and a medium range (MRBM) missile, and the categories overlap. Different sources classify missiles in different ways. They are both distinct from ICBMs, in that they have a range that is less than intercontinental, and hence must be based relatively close to the target. An IRBM, in general, is intended as a strategic weapon, while a MRBM, in general, is intended as atheatre ballistic missile.[citation needed]
| Date*D | Model | Range km | Maximum km | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | PGM-17 Thor | 2,400 | 3,000 |  United States, United Kingdom |
| 2023 | Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon | 2775 | unknown | United States |
| Cancelled | Blue Streak | 3,700 | United Kingdom | |
| 1962 | R-14 Chusovaya (SS-5) | 3,700 |  Soviet Union | |
| 1970 | DF-3A | 4,000 | 5,000 |  China, Saudi Arabia |
| 1976 | RSD-10 Pioneer (SS-20) | 5,500 | Soviet Union | |
| 1980 | S3 (missile) | 3,500 |  France | |
| 2004 | DF-25 | 3,200 | 4,000 | China |
| 2006 | Agni-III | 3,500 | 5,000 |  India |
| 2007 | DF-26 | 3,500 | 5,000 | China |
| 2007 | Shahab-5 | 4,000 | 4,300 (not proven) |  Iran |
| 2010 | Hwasong-10 (Musudan/BM-25) | 2,500 | 4,000 (not proven) |  North Korea[8] |
| 2010 | K-4[9] | 3,500 | India | |
| 2011 | Agni-IV | 4,000 | India | |
| 2017 | Hwasong-12 (KN-17) | 3,700 | 6,000 | North Korea |
| 2023 | Hyunmoo-5 | 3,000 | 5,500 |  South Korea |
| 2024 | Hwasong-16B | 1,100 (ROK telemetry) 1,500 (DPRK claimed) | unknown | North Korea |
| 2024 | Oreshnik | unknown | unknown |  Russia[6] |
| 2011 | RS-26 Rubezh | unknown | 5,800 | Russia |
