- Yes
- No (Explain why)
Suggestion No.77
G’day lads. I want to suggest an improved version of the current Derby, featuring an upgraded seeker and newer systems. All of this is found on the I-Derby, also known as I-Derby SR on ground launched platforms :)
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. There is also an extended range version of the I-Derby, which was shown later. As the name says, it has improved range, giving it 100km of range when air launched or 40km if ground launched.
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 variant was displayed a few years later and mounted on other aircraft. 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
^ This image was originally on the normal I-Derby brochure, but is also found on the ER version
Specifications:
Spoiler
The I-Derby is the same as the current, normal Derby ingame, aside as I already mention multiple times that the seeker has better seeker so it gets less distracted by countermeasures. It has a weight of 118kg, a length of 362cm, a wingspan of 64cm and a diameter of 16cm. Like the normal Derby, it’s range is 40km. According to Marvin Engineering, who makes LAU rails, Derby’s can be carried on any platform which has either LAU-127, 128 or 129
^ Footage of an I-Derby being fired from a SPYDER-SR, although might be an ER, as Rafael states it’s both a I-Derby and I-Derby ER on other platforms
Sources:
Spoiler
I-Derby Brochure
https://marvineng.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/01/LAU-127_128_129-Launcher.pdf
You can also find my I-Derby ER 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 :)