Engineering:Alfa (rocket)

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Alfa
Alfa missile.jpg
Test launch of an Alfa
TypeIntermediate range ballistic missile
Place of originItaly
Service history
In service1973–76
Used byItalian Navy
Production history
ManufacturerAeritalia, Selenia, Snia BPD
No. builtunknown
Specifications
Mass8,000 kilograms (18,000 lb)
Length3.85 metres (12.6 ft)
 lengthfirst stage
Height6.5 metres (21 ft)
Diameter1.37 metres (54 in)

WarheadNuclear warhead

Enginefirst stage, solid fuel rocket
250 kN (56,000 lbf) thrust
second stage, solid fuel rocket
thrust unknown
Operational
range
1,600 kilometres (990 mi) with 1 tonne warhead
Boost timefirst stage, 57 seconds
second stage, unknown
Guidance
system
Inertial
Launch
platform
surface vessels

Alfa was the designation of an Italian ballistic missile program that started in 1971 under the control of the GRS (Gruppo di Realizzazione Speciale Interforze). It was related to the Polaris A-3 missile.

Development

Born from the development effort for efficient solid-propellant rocket engines, the Alfa was planned as a two-stage missile. Test launches with an upper stage mockup took place between 1973 and 1975, from Salto di Quirra.[1]

Italian Alfa missile side and cutaway views

The Alfa was 6.5 metres (21 ft) long and had a diameter of 1.37 metres (4 ft 6 in). The first stage of the Alfa was 3.85 metres (12.6 ft) long and contained 6 t of solid rocket fuel. It supplied a thrust of 232 kN for a duration of 57 seconds. It could carry a one tonne warhead for a range of 1,600 kilometres (990 mi), placing European Russia and Moscow in range of the Adriatic Sea.[1]

Italy has been active in the space sector since 1957, conducting launch and control operations from the Luigi Broglio Space Centre. The advanced Scout and Vega launchers currently used by the European Space Agency (ESA) derive their technological basis partially from Alfa studies.[1]

See also

  • Italian nuclear weapons program

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Alfa". Astronautix. http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/lvs/alfa.htm. Retrieved 6 October 2013.