Shafrir

Shafrir
Shafrir
	Python 5 (front) and Shafrir 1 (back) missiles
Type	short-range air-to-air missile
Production history
Manufacturer	RAFAEL Armament Development Authority
Unit cost	$20,000
Produced	1961 - 1983
Specifications
Length	97in (2470mm)
Diameter	6.3in (160mm)
Wingspan	20.5in (520mm)
Engine	solid fuel rocket motor
Operational; range	>3.1 miles (5km)
Maximum speed	Supersonic
Launch; platform	Aircraft: Israeli Air Force: Mirage III, Nesher, Kfir

The Rafael Shafrir 1 and Shafrir 2 are short-range air-to-air missile developed by the Israeli arms manufacturer RAFAEL Armament Development Authority.

The Shafrir is also the predecessor to the Python missile. After the Shafrir 2, the next missile was named Python 3. For more information, please see Python missile entry.

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 of 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. [2]

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 - Mach 2 (2,120 km/h, 1,320 mph)

Shafrir 2

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 shooting down a total of 106 aircraft.