Gabriel (missile)
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| A Gabriel Mk 3 A/S missile | |
|---|---|
| File:Gabriel3missile.jpg | |
| Type | Short-range anti-ship missile |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1962 |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aircraft Industries |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 430 kg (MK I) 522 kg (MK II) |
| Length | 3.35 m |
| Diameter | 34 cm |
| Wingspan | 1.35 m |
| Warhead | 100 kg |
Operational range | 20 km (MK I) 6-36 km (MK II) |
| Flight altitude | 2.5 m |
| Maximum speed | 240 m/s |
Guidance system | Semi-active radar and manual |
The Gabriel is an Israeli sea-skimming anti-ship missile, also known as a Scorpion missile in the South African Navy.
Development of the Gabriel for the Israeli Navy began in 1962. The first model was ready by the 1973 Yom Kippur War and was credited with easily defeating Syrian and Egyptian ships armed with the Soviet-made Styx missile.
Gabriel III and Gabriel III A/S were introduced with major improvements. The air-launched Gabriel III A/S has a range of over 60km. Both Gabriel III versions utilise the now widely used 'fire and forget' mode. The air-launched Gabriel flies so low that it is extremely hard for enemy targets to detect early enough to counter.
A new long-range turbojet-powered version of the Gabriel (Gabriel IV) has a 200km range, and Israel Aerospace Industries is reportedly working on a Gabriel-V (Advanced Naval Attack Missile), with an advanced active radar seeker designed for cluttered littoral environments.
Older models of the Gabriel are still used by Chile, Ecuador, Israel, Mexico, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Kenya, and other countries.
Operators
External links
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