- Yes
- No (Explain why)
Suggestion No.78
G’day lads. I want to suggest an improved version of the current Derby, featuring an upgraded seeker, newer systems and a dual pulse motor, all of which is found on the I-Derby ER :)
Description:
Spoiler
The Derby is an Active Radar Homing (ARH) missile, first shown in the early 2000’s. It is based of the Python, but barely has anything that uses components of it (despite rumors). The I-Derby is the same as the Derby, however features improved ECCM capabilities, making it harder to distract with countermeasures. Due to it being the same as the normal Derby, it has around 50km range when air launched, and 20km if ground launched. The extended range version of the I-Derby, which was shown later, is known as the I-Derby ER. As the name says, it has improved range, giving it 100km of range when air launched or 40km if ground launched. This range is achieved with a dual pulse motor, which the other Derby variants did not have.
The Derby missiles are sometimes also known under a “Mk.” name, like the Derby being Mk.I, I-Derby being Mk.II and I-Derby ER being Mk.III, although that designation is kinda rare
History:
Spoiler
The project for the Derby began in the 1980s, with development efforts gaining momentum after South Africa provided funding and joined the program. By the 1990s, the Derby had undergone extensive flight testing, including trials on Israeli F-16 fighters. The missile was officially acknowledged in 1998, though reports suggest it had been in development for at least a decade before its public reveal. Rafael sought to create an alternative to export BVR missiles. By integrating FnF technology and active radar tech inside of it, the missile was made. While the Derby was inspired from the Python 4, it didn’t use as much tech from it as some rumors claim. The Derby became operational in the early 2000s and was later exported to multiple countries, including Brazil, India, and Chile, where it was integrated into various fighter platforms and air defense systems.
^ Brazilian F-5EM carrying Derby
During Aero India 2015, a new missile was shown, which was the I-Derby. The improvement of it was it’s seeker, which had improved countermeasure resistance, including better ECCM and computing systems. On the same year, Rafael also said that an extended range version was planned, which was the I-Derby ER.
The ER achieved operational status in 2018, where it was then sent off to the export market. The ground based version had some tests done during 2021 with relative success. From what I can see, the visual difference between both missiles is that the I-Derby is grey, meanwhile the I-Derby ER is light blue. Additionally, the I-Derby ER does not have the same rolling fins anymore as found on the 2 previous Derby variants (only exception I can find is on one/few exhibition/s). The rolling fins it has now are smaller and swept, instead of being straight
^ This image was originally on the normal I-Derby brochure, but is also found on the ER version
Specifications:
Spoiler
The I-Derby ER is the same as the I-Derby with its seeker, where compared to the normal Derby it has a better seeker, so it gets less distracted by countermeasures. It has a weight of 122kg, a length of 362cm, wingspan of 64cm and a diameter of 16cm. Of course the main upgrade is its newer, dual pulse motor, which can make it go up to 100km if launched from the front from an aircraft, 70km if turning right or left and 40km if it does a full 180. According to Marvin Engineering, who makes LAU rails, Derby’s can be carried on any platform which has either LAU-127, 128 or 129
Sources:
Spoiler
I Derby ER | PDF | Fighter Aircraft | Aviation
https://marvineng.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/01/LAU-127_128_129-Launcher.pdf
You can also find my I-Derby variant suggestion here:
Thanks a lot for reading! If you have any extra information, then feel free to share them in the replies! As always, have a good day :)