thumb|300x300px|Agni-IV missile being launched from [[Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, India.]]
An intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) is a ballistic missile with a range between (), categorized between a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Classifying ballistic missiles by range is done mostly for convenience. In principle there is little difference between a high-performance IRBM and a low-performance ICBM, because decreasing payload mass can increase the range over the ICBM threshold. The range definition used here is used within the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.
History
The progenitor for the IRBM was the A4b rocket, winged for increased range and based on the famous V-2, Vergeltung, or "Reprisal", officially called A4, rocket designed by Wernher von Braun. The V-2 was widely used by Nazi Germany at the end of World War II to bomb English and Belgian cities. The A4b was the prototype for the upper stage of the A9/A10 rocket. The goal of the program was to build a missile capable of hitting New York, when launched from France or Spain (see Amerika Bomber). All of these rockets used liquid propellant. The A4b used an inertial guidance system, while the A9 would have been controlled by a pilot. They started from a non-mobile launch pad.
Following World War II, von Braun and other lead Nazi scientists were secretly transferred to the United States, to work directly for the U.S. Army through Operation Paperclip, developing the V-2 into the weapon for the United States.
As of 2026, IRBMs are operated by the People's Republic of China, India, Israel, North Korea, and Russia. The United States, USSR, Pakistan, United Kingdom, and France are former operators.
Nomenclature
There is no clearly agreed-upon distinction between an intermediate-range and a medium range (MRBM) missile, and the categories overlap. Different sources classify missiles in different ways. They are both distinct from ICBMs, in that they have a range that is less than intercontinental, and hence must be based relatively close to the target. An IRBM, in general, is intended as a strategic weapon, while a MRBM, in general, is intended as a theatre ballistic missile.
Specific IRBMs
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This list may be incomplete. You can help add other IRBMs that aren't listed. Please note that the list is in alphabetic order, and follow that sequence while listing any new ones. Also please try to insert IRBMs that have already been tested at least, instead of speculating those "under development". If there are any to be added which are "under development", try to back it up with citations providing details of laboratory
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ IRBMs
|-
! Date <sup>*D</sup>
! Model
! Range km
! Maximum km
! class="wikitable sortable" | Country
|-
| 1959 || PGM-17 Thor || 2,400 || 3,000|| ,
|-
| 2023 || Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon || 2,775 || 3,500 ||
|-
| Cancelled || Blue Streak || 3,700 || ||
|-
| 1962 || R-14 Chusovaya (SS-5) || 3,700 || ||
|-
| 1970 || DF-3A || 4,000 || 5,000 || ,
|-
| 1976 || RSD-10 Pioneer (SS-20) || 5,500 || ||
|-
| 1980 || S3 (missile) || 3,500 || ||
|-
| 2004 || DF-25 || 3,200 || 4,000 ||
|-
| 2006 || Agni-III || 3,500 || 5,000 ||
|-
| 2007 || DF-26 || 3,500 || 5,000 ||
|-
| 2007 ||Shahab-5 || 4,000 || 4,300 (not proven) ||
|-
|2012||Sejjil || 2,000 || 4,000 ||
|-
|-
| 2010 || Hwasong-10 (Musudan/BM-25) || 2,500 || 4,000 (not proven) ||
|-
| 2010 ||K-4|| 3,500 ||
||
|-
| 2011 || Agni-IV || 4,000 || ||
|-
| 2017 ||Hwasong-12 (KN-17) || 3,700 || 6,000 ||
|-
| 2023 ||Hyunmoo-5 || 3,000 || 5,500 ||
|-
| 2024 ||Hwasong-16B || 1,100 (ROK telemetry)
1,500 (DPRK claimed)
| 5,500 ||
|-
| 2024 || Oreshnik || unknown || unknown ||