Sparrow (target missile)
Israeli air-launched ballistic missile
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 was used initially in 2013 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]
By 2024, air-to-surface versions of the missile were used in attacks on Iran: Blue Sparrow in 2024[6] and Black Sparrow in 2026, for the initial standoff attacks of the 2026 Iran War.[7]
Versions
There are three versions of the missile: Black Sparrow, Blue Sparrow, and Silver Sparrow, each with a different maximum range and maximum speed to simulate different ballistic missiles.[5] Black Sparrow simulated Scud missiles. The Silver Sparrow version is designed to simulate Iranian Shahab-3 class ballistic missiles with a 1,500-2,000 km range.[5][8] 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.[6]
The Rafael ROCKS stand-off range air-to-surface missile is a conversion of the Sparrow target missile into an offensive weapon.[9]
The "Golden Horizon" missile might be another Sparrow derivative, possibly designed to target underground bunkers.[10][11] It was reported in February 2026 that Golden Horizon had been offered to the Indian Air Force as a long-range air-launched ballistic missile to be integrated on upgraded Sukhoi Su-30MKI platforms.[12][13]
Operational history
The Silver Sparrow version was first tested on September 2, 2013.[14] The launch from the Mediterranean was detected by a Russian ballistic missile early warning radar at Armavir,[15] followed by Israeli acknowledgement of the test over an hour later.[14]
The Financial Times reported experts identifying the Blue Sparrow, from its booster remnants, as the missile used in the April 2024 Israeli strikes on Iran.[6]
The New York Times reported that the Israeli Air Force utilized the Black Sparrow variant to destroy Iranian surface-to-air missile batteries during the 2026 Iran war.[7] The Times of India further reported that a Blue Sparrow was used to kill Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.[16]
