| Country: |
Israel |
| Associated Country: |
South Africa |
| Alternate Name: |
YA-3 |
| Class: |
MRBM |
| Basing: |
Road mobile |
| Length: |
14.00 m |
| Diameter: |
1.56 m |
| Launch Weight: |
26000 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 1000 kg |
| Warhead: |
Nuclear 1 MT, HE |
| Propulsion: |
2-stage solid |
| Range: |
1500 km |
| Status: |
Operational |
| In Service: |
1990 |
Details
The Jericho 2 is an medium-range, road mobile, solid propellant ballistic missile. Its primary function is as a strike weapon against Israel's hostile neighbors and can be equipped for a conventional, chemical, or nuclear response.
Its predecessor, the Jericho 1, is believed to have entered development in 1962 with the assistance of the French company Marcel-Dassault. It is believed that 16 test launches took place between 1965 and 1968, of which 10 were successful. In 1973, the missile entered service, originally deployed in caves in Zacharia, south-west of Tel Aviv.
The Jericho 2 was a continuation of the Jericho 1 project. It entered development in 1977 and there have been several reported test firings since 1986. There is some evidence that it originated as a joint Israeli-Iranian project but, if so, any cooperation ended by 1979. Reports also indicate that there was cooperation between the Israeli Jericho 2 and South African Arniston missile project during the 1980s, which is further evidenced by the 1,400 km (869 mile) test launch of a possible Jericho 2 in South Africa during 1989. Eight additional tests are believed to have been conducted by Israel between 1989 and 2001.
The Jericho 2 functions primarily as a deterrent against Israel's hostile neighbors. Though Israel has stated that it will not be the first to deploy nuclear weapons, the Jericho 1 was also a deterrent against a conventional invasion by threatening escalation. It has a reported maximum range of 1,500 km (932 miles), but the capability of the design in such that it could easily have a greater range of up to 3,500 or 4,000 km (2,174 or 2,485 miles). This range is sufficient to strike most targets within the Middle East from secure launch locations.
The Jericho 2 is 14.0 m long and 1.56 m wide, with a reported launch weight of 26,000 kg (although an alternative launch weight of 21,935 kg has been suggested). It has a 1,000 kg payload, capable of carrying a considerable amount of high explosives or a 1 MT yield nuclear warhead. It uses a two-stage solid propellant engine with a separating warhead. Its accuracy is unknown. The missile can be launched from a silo, a railroad flat truck, or a mobile vehicle. This gives it the ability to be hidden, moved quickly, or kept in a hardened silo, ensuring survival against any attack.
The missiles are currently based in Zacharia, located south-west of Tel Aviv and stationed in underground caves and silos. It is currently believed that approximately 90 Jericho 2 missiles are deployed in the site.(1)
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, January 2007), 82-83.
Israel Tests Ballistic Missile
January 17, 2008 :: Ha'aretz :: News
Israel today announced the successful test launch of a ballistic missile capable of carrying an "unconventional" warhead, presumably nuclear. The missile was launched from the Palmachim military base near Jerusalem, where some 90 Jericho II missiles are believed to be stationed, according to Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems. The identity of the missile was not released. The Israeli Defense Force's brief press release on the test only described it as a "two-stage" missile. The purpose of the test was described as "testing missile propulsion." Israel has been believed to have had for several years the Jericho II missile with a range of 1500 km, and to be developing a Jericho III missile with a possible range between 4,800 and 6,500 km. The Jericho III was at one time expected to be in service by 2008, but has also been previously reported as having three stages. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: Testing - Foreign, Israel
» Missile details: Jericho 2, Jericho 3
