Intermediate-range ballistic missile

An intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, is a ballistic missile with a range of 2750-5500 km or 1719-3437 miles.

See also Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Alternative use of launchers

IRBMs are frequently turned into small satellite launchers via the addition of (usually multiple) upper stages . In the United States, this happened to both the Thor and Jupiter. A derivative of the Jupiter, the Jupiter-C launched the U.S.'s first satellite, Explorer 1.

Examples include:

• Thor
• Redstone
• Jupiter IRBM
• Shavit
• Taepo Dong 2
• Pluton
• Hades
• SM-64 Navaho (cancelled)