FORCETALLY
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At a glance
Python (missile)larger figure on 0 of 4
R-23 (missile)larger figure on 4 of 4
Measured figures
Length
Single source3.1 metres (10 feet )[source]
Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Python (missile) | R-23 (missile) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Mach 4[source] | Mach 3[source] Mach 3[source] |
| Type | Short-range air-to-air missile[source] | Medium air-to-air missile[source] |
| Place of origin | Israel[source] | Soviet Union[source] |
| Used by | See operators[source] |
Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.
4.50 m (14 ft 9 in)[source]
Operational; >
Single source>20 kilometres (12 miles )[source]
Warhead weight
Single source25 kg (55 lb)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
Soviet Air Forces , others[source] |
| Wars | Yom Kippur War Falklands War 1982 Lebanon War 2006 Lebanon War[source] | 1982 Lebanon War Iran–Iraq War Operation Moduler Syrian Civil War[source] |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Rafael Advanced Defense Systems[source] | Vympel NPO[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | Shafrir series: Shafrir-1: US$20,000[source] | — |
|---|
| Produced | Shafrir series: 1961–1983 Python series: 1980–present[source] | — |
|---|
| Warhead | 11 kg (24 lb 4 oz)[source] | expanding-rod high explosive[source] |
|---|
| Detonation mechanism | proximity[source] | — |
|---|
| Engine | solid fuel rocket motor[source] | solid fuel rocket[source] |
|---|
| Flight altitude | N/A[source] | — |
|---|
| Guidance system | infrared homing + 320×240 pixel dual waveband electro-optical imaging seeker, lock on after launch, with infrared counter-counter-measures (IRCCM)[source] | semi-active radar homing (R-23R/R-24R) infrared homing (R-23T/R-24T)[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | Aircraft: BAE Sea Harrier CASA C-101 Aviojet F-4E Kurnass 2000 F-5E/F Tiger-II McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon Dassault Mirage III Dassault Mirage 5 Dassault Mirage 2000 Eurofighter Typhoon IAI Nesher/Dagger/Finder IAI Kfir HAL Tejas KAI T-50 Golden Eagle Leonardo M-346FA Master Saab JAS 39 Gripen Sukhoi Su-30MKI Su-25KM Scorpion[source] | MiG-23[source] |
|---|
| In service | — | 1974–present[source] |
|---|
| Designer | — | V. A. Pustyakov[source] |
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| Propellant | — | 1.04 m (3 ft 5 in)[source] |
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| Guidance | — | (R-23R, R-24R) SARH ; (R-23T, R-24T), infrared-homing[source] |
|---|
| Launch weight | — | (R-23R, R-24R) 222 kg (489 lb), 243 kg (536 lb); (R-23T, R-24T) 215 kg (474 lb), 235 kg (518 lb)[source] |
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| Reported operators |
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