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An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000-5,500 km. Classifying ballistic missiles by range is done mostly for convenience, but in principle there is very little difference between a low-performance ICBM and a high-performance IRBM. The range definition used here is the definition used within the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
See also Alternative use of launchers IRBMs are frequently turned into small satellite launchers via the addition of (usually multiple) upper stages. In the United States, this happened to both the Thor and Jupiter. A derivative of the Jupiter, the Jupiter-C launched the U.S.'s first satellite, Explorer 1. Examples of IRBMs include: | ||||||||
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