Sparrow (target missile)

The Sparrow (Hebrew: אנקור, pronounced [anˈkor]) target missile is an Israeli medium-range air-launched ballistic missile produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.^[1] The missile is currently used as a target missile to test the Arrow anti-ballistic missile system.^[2][3][4] The missile has a modular warhead section and is capable of carrying a high-explosive warhead.^[5]

Versions

There are three versions of the missile: Black Sparrow, Blue Sparrow, and Silver Sparrow.^[5] The Silver Sparrow version is designed to simulate Iranian Shahab-3 class ballistic missiles with a 1,500-2,000 km range.^[5][6] The Blue Sparrow has a total length of 6.51 metres (21.4 ft), weight of 1,900 kilograms (4,200 lb) and a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) on a high ballistic trajectory.^[7]

The Rafael ROCKS stand-off range air-to-surface missile uses a Sparrow missile booster.^[8]

According to Petagon leaks concerning the october 2024 retaliatory strikes by Israel on Iranian military targets 16 Blue Sparrow based missiles with the previously unknown^[9] designation "Golden Horizon" were readied and cleared for use by the Israeli military.

Operational history

The Silver Sparrow version was first tested on September 2, 2013.^[10] The launch from the Mediterranean was detected by a Russian ballistic missile early warning radar at Armavir,^[11] followed by Israeli acknowledgement of the test over an hour later.^[10]

The Financial Times reported experts identifying the Blue Sparrow, from its booster remnants, as the missile most likely used in the 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran.^[7]

Following the Israeli retaliation leak, it is likely the ROCKS missile was used (sharing the same booster as Blue Sparrow) in the 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran.