Jericho 2 Missile Specifications, Israeli-made Ballistic Missile with High Mobility

ISRAEL – The Jericho 2 missile is one of the generations of ballistic missiles that are Israel’s mainstay. This missile is a continuation of the Jericho 1 project, in the manufacture of which Israel received support from the US in the form of the Pershing II IRBM.

The missile was first developed in 1977, and only became operational in 1989. The weapon underwent eight tests between then and 2001.

As reported on the Missile Threat page, the Jericho 2 program demonstrated significant cooperation between Israel and the South African “Arniston” program during the 1980s, which was further evidenced by the test launch of a Jericho 2 missile 1,400 km (869 miles) in South Africa in 1989.

Jericho 2 Missile Specifications

The Jericho 2 missile is a two-stage, medium-range, solid-fuel ballistic missile with a separate warhead.

This missile has a maximum range of about 1,500 km, and is capable of carrying a high explosive (HE) payload of up to 1,500 kg or a nuclear warhead of up to 1 MT.

In terms of dimensions, Jericho 2 is 15 meters long and 1.35 meters wide, with an estimated launch weight of 22,000 kg.

The missile can be launched from silos, flatbed trucks, or TEL vehicles. This mobility gives it the ability to be hidden, moved quickly, or stored in a strong silo, increasing its resistance to preemptive strikes.

Jericho 2 is also reported to serve as the domestically produced Shavit Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV).

According to scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a Shavit, “could carry a nuclear warhead a minimum of 5,300 km” if used as a ballistic missile, with the DOD estimating a potential range of 7,200km.

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