Jericho 1


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Jericho 1 was a short-ranged, solid-fueled ballistic missile developed and produced by Israel. Israel’s first nuclear capable missile, it was retired from service during the 1990’s.1

Jericho 1 at a Glance

Originated from
Israel, France
Possessed by
Israel
Alternate names
YA-1, MD-620
Class
Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM)
Basing
TEL vehicle, silo-based, railcar-based
Length
13.72 m
Diameter
0.8 m
Launch weight
6,700 kg
Payload
Single warhead
Warhead
High explosive, nuclear
Propulsion
Two-stage solid propellant
Range
500 – 720 km
Status
Obsolete
In service
1973 – 1990s

Jericho 1 Development

The Jericho 1 is thought to have entered development in 1962 with the assistance of the French company Marcel-Dassault.2 The missile, given the designator YA-1, is based on Dassault’s design, the MD-620.3 Approximately 16 test launches took place between 1965 and 1968, of which 10 were successful.4 After initially receiving 14 Jericho 1 missiles from France, Israel domestically produced approximately 50 additional missiles between 1971 and 1978.5 The Jericho 1 was Israel’s first nuclear capable missile.6 The missile entered service in 1973.7

Jericho 1 Specifications

The Jericho 1 had a range of 500 km, with a payload of up to 650 kg. It was 13.4 m long, with a 0.8 m diameter, and a total launch weight of 6,700 kg.8 The missile used a two-stage solid propellant engine and could be launched from a railroad flat truck or a TEL vehicle. The Jericho could carry a payload of up to 650 kg, reportedly equipped with a 450 kg high explosive warhead, a 20 kT nuclear warhead, or potentially a chemical warhead.9 The missile reportedly has an accuracy of 1,000 m CEP.10

The range on the Jericho 1 was sufficient to strike major cities such as Damascus and Cairo from secured launch locations.11

Jericho 1 Service History

The Jericho 1 missiles were housed in Zacharia, located south-west of Tel Aviv and stationed in underground caves. Although the Jericho 1 missiles have been taken out of service, it is suspected that at least 90 Jericho 2 missiles remained at this site.12

It is believed that Israel took all Jericho 1 missiles out of service in the 1990’s and replaced with the longer-range Jericho 2.13

Footnotes

    1. James O’Halloran, IHS Jane’s Weapons: Strategic 2015-2016, 2015, (United Kingdom: IHS), 52.
    2. O’Halloran, 52.
    3. Dassault Aviation, “MD 620 Jericho”, 2013, http://www.dassault-aviation.com/fr/passion/avions/dassault-militaires/md-620-jericho/.
    4. Nuclear Threat Initiative, “Israel: Missile”, November 2012, http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/israel/delivery-systems/.
    5. O’Halloran, 53.
    6. Bulletin of Peace Proposals, “Nuclear Weapons in the Middle East,” Vol.7(4), 371.
    7. Global Security.org, “Jericho 1” 2016, http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/israel/jericho-1.htm.
    8. Global Security.org, “Jericho 1”, 2016, http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/israel/jericho-1.htm.
    9. Federation of American Scientists, “Jericho 1”, June 20, 2000, https://fas.org/nuke/guide/israel/missile/jericho-1.htm.
    10. O’Halloran, 53.
    11. Nuclear Threat Initiative, “Israel: Missile”, November 2012, http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/israel/delivery-systems/.
    12. Ibid.
    13. O’Halloran, 52.
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Missile Defense Project, "Jericho 1," Missile Threat, Center for Strategic and International Studies, May 12, 2017, last modified August 2, 2021, https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/jericho-1/.