Nimrod (missile)
| Industry | Aerospace, Defense |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Israel |
| Products | Nimrod missile |
The Nimrod missile is a long-distance air-to-surface missile engineered by Israel Aerospace Industries, designed mainly for anti-tank warfare. It delivers standoff attack capabilities against a variety of specific targets such as armoured personnel carriers (APCs), ships, fortified bunkers, groups of personnel, and insurgent units.
Featuring a semi-active laser guidance mechanism, the Nimrod can operate effectively during both day and night. Its flight path is programmable to fly beneath cloud cover and is directed by a forward reconnaissance team using a laser designator from distances reaching .
The Nimrod can be launched from several platforms including towed launchers, light combat vehicles, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft. Within the Israel Defense Forces, the main launch platform is a modified Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion. Each platform or launcher has the capacity to fire up to four Nimrod missiles simultaneously.
Description
The Nimrod is a long-range semi-active laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) created by the MBT Weapon System Division. It is powered by a solid-propellant rocket and supports operations around the clock. Additionally, it can be employed as an anti-ship missile.
Operators can choose from different flight profiles—direct, high cruise, or low cruise—with altitudes maintained between . Mid-course navigation is handled by an inertial navigation system, while the terminal phase relies on a semi-active laser seeker illuminated by either ground-based or airborne designators.
Its gimballed and stabilized seeker utilizes proportional navigation and offers a viewing angle exceeding 30°, scanning an area wide and deep. During the final approach, the missile executes a dive at approximately 45°, targeting armored vehicles' more vulnerable upper sections.
Stored and launched from a sealed canister weighing , the Nimrod consists of five main components: seeker, guidance and control unit, warhead, rocket motor, and servo system. It maintains roll stability throughout flight. The missile can be deployed at launch sites in under three minutes without requiring site alignment or direct line of sight. Firing options include single shots, ripple fire, or salvo mode.
Characteristics
- Operational range: 300 - 36,000 meters
- Length: 265 cm
- Diameter: 17 cm
- Body diameter: 18 cm
- Wingspan: 40 cm
- Weight: 100 kg
- Velocity: approximately 1000 km/h (Mach 0.8)
- Propulsion system: Single-stage solid-propellant rocket motor
- Guidance system: Semi-active laser homing
- Warhead types: High-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), fragmentation high explosive (HE), thermobaric, or anti-personnel
Variants
By 2022, three distinct versions of Nimrod have been developed:
- Nimrod 2 – Featuring dual guidance via laser and Global Positioning System (GPS), this variant offers a range of and is equipped with a warhead. It supports multiple warhead configurations suitable for diverse targets and is paired with a mobile launcher, making it well-suited for rapid deployment and coastal defense.
- Nimrod 3 – An enhanced iteration of Nimrod 2 with an extended range of and carrying a warhead. It accommodates various warheads and includes a mobile launcher system.
- Nimrod SR – A short-range () version designed for deployment from both ground-based and airborne platforms.
Present Users
Analogous Systems
See Also
- LAHAT, which has been rebranded as Nimrod-SR for the Latin American region.
External Links
- Nimrod (Mikhol, Mikholit) missile on Jane's
- Nimrod 3 with extended range on Deagel.com