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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.

Contents

History

Versions

Shafrir 1

Shafrir 2

Python 3

Python 4

Python 5

Derby

See also

Notes

External links

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, the 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 and 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-1980s. 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 the F-15I Ra'am ("Thunder") and the F-16I Sufa ("Storm").
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.

Versions

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]

★ Length: 250 cm (2.5 m)

★ Span: 55 cm

★ Diameter: 14 cm

★ Weight: 65 kg

★ Guidance: IR

★ Warhead: 11 kg blast explosive (later 30 kg)

★ Range: 5 km

★ Speed: ??

Shafrir 2

Perhaps the most deadly AAM ever built by Israel, the Shafrir was credited with 89 kills in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.^[1] During its entire service life, the Shafrir 2 is credited with a total of 106 kills.

★ Length: 250 cm (2.5 m)

★ Span: 55 cm

★ Diameter: 15 cm

★ Weight: 93 kg

★ Guidance: IR

★ Warhead: 11 kg

★ Range: 5 km

★ Speed: ??

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.^[3]
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.

★ Length: 295 cm

★ Span: 80 cm

★ Diameter: 15 cm

★ Weight: 120 kg

★ Guidance: IR

★ Warhead: 11 kg, active proximity fuse

★ Range: 15 km

★ Speed: Mach 3.5

Python 4

The Python-4 is a 4th generation AAM with all-aspect attack capability, and integration with a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system.^[2] It entered service in the 1990s with the Elbit Systems DASH (Display and Sight Helmet) HMS system for Israeli F-15s 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]

★ Length: 295 cm

★ Span: 50 cm

★ Diameter: 15 cm

★ Weight: 120 kg

★ Guidance: IR

★ Warhead: 11 kg, active laser proximity fuse with back-up impact fuse

★ Range: 15 km

★ Speed: Mach 3.5 or better

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.^[3]

★ Length: 310 cm

★ Span: 64 cm

★ Diameter: 16 cm

★ Weight: 103.6 kg

★ Guidance: IR + Electro-Optical Imaging

★ Warhead: 11 kg

★ Range: >20 km

★ Speed: Mach 4

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]

★ Length: 362 cm

★ Span: 64 cm

★ Diameter: 16 cm

★ Weight: 118 kg

★ Guidance: Active Radar

★ Warhead: 23 kg

★ Range: 50 km

★ Speed: Mach 4

See also

★ Similar missiles are: AIM-9 Sidewinder, IRIS-T, ASRAAM

★ List of missiles

Notes

1. Shafrir 2, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
2. Python 4, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
3. Python 5, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
4. Shafrir 1, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
5. Shafrir 2, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
6. Python 5, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
7. PL-8 Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile, SinoDefence.com, 9 April, 2006.
8. Python 4, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
9. Carlo Kopp, "Fourth Generation AAMs - The Rafael Python 4", ''Australian Aviation'', April 1997.
10. Python 5, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.
11. Derby Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile, www.Israeli-Weapons.com.

External links

★ Python-3

★ Python-4

★ Alto/Derby

★ Israeli Weapons

★ Fourth Generation AAMs - The Rafael Python 4