Munitions

Derby surface-to-air missile

Also known as
  • Derby

Derby is Rafael's Israeli active-radar missile family adapted for SPYDER short- and medium-range air-defense batteries. The missile began as a late-1980s answer to a radar-guided BVR requirement, later entered worldwide service, and India fielded Derby-equipped SPYDER batteries from 2012.

Derby surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-air missile family, Munitions
Image source: Wikimedia Commons Rafael I-Derby Missiles file

Role in Conflicts

2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes
Side
India
Role in conflict
Short-range air-defense interceptor

Used by Indian air-defense forces in the 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes; ThePrint reported that the Mi-17 was hit by a missile fired by the Israeli-made Spyder air defence system during the 27 February 2019 friendly-fire incident.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
Israel
Type
Surface-to-air missile family
Service note
1990s-present
Designer
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Designed
Late 1980s
Unit cost
Reported about US$2.5 million per I-DERBY ER missile in 2023 Czech procurement reporting.
Produced
1998-present

Specifications

Guidance
Active radar homing
Launch mode
SPYDER-SR/MR and I-DERBY ER mobile air-defense launch configurations
Employment
Radar-guided interceptor used in SPYDER surface-to-air batteries
Range class
Short-range to beyond-visual-range depending on variant
Propulsion
I-DERBY ER uses a dual-pulse rocket motor
Variants
  • I-Derby
  • I-Derby ER
Launch Platforms

Rafael's public material treats Derby as one of the radar-guided interceptors launched from the SPYDER family.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
SPYDER surface-to-air missile system, Short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseSPYDER surface-to-air missile systemMobile air-defense launcher

Rafael's SPYDER brochure identifies Derby-I as an interceptor used in SPYDER short- and medium-range air-defense systems, and Rafael's I-DERBY ER page says the missile can also be used with SPYDER Air Defense Systems.

Sources: Rafael SPYDER family brochure, Rafael I-DERBY ER page

Documented SPYDER Fit

Rafael presents Derby as a SPYDER-family interceptor rather than a standalone launcher product. The public evidence also shows the extended-range I-DERBY ER variant being used with SPYDER air-defense systems.

Launcher familyDocumented missile roleEvidence
SPYDER surface-to-air missile system, Short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseSPYDERDerby-I radar-guided interceptorRafael's SPYDER brochure lists Derby-I among the system's interceptors.
SPYDER surface-to-air missile system, Short- and medium-range surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseSPYDERI-DERBY ER interceptorRafael's I-DERBY ER page says the missile can be used with SPYDER Air Defense Systems.

Sources: Rafael SPYDER family brochure; Rafael I-DERBY ER page.

Timeline

Derby surface-to-air missile Key Events

  1. Derby enters worldwide service

    Rafael says Derby has been sold worldwide since 1998.

    Sources: Rafael ESG report 2022-2023

  2. India fields Derby-equipped SPYDER batteries

    Janes reports the Indian Air Force fielded SPYDER-SR batteries carrying Derby interceptors from 2012.

    Sources: Janes IAF I-Derby ER report

  3. Friendly-fire shootdown in Kashmir

    Indian reporting tied the 27 February 2019 Mi-17 loss to a missile fired by a SPYDER battery.

    Sources: ThePrint friendly-fire probe

Media

Derby surface-to-air missile Videos

Derby surface-to-air missile Images

Derby surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-air missile family, Munitions - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons Derby missile file
Derby surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-air missile family, Munitions - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons Spyder missile system file
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Sources

Rafael SPYDER family brochurePublisher: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems | Note: Official Rafael brochure for the SPYDER family, showing Derby-I as an active-radar missile used in SPYDER short- and medium-range air-defense systems. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Rafael I-DERBY ER pagePublisher: Rafael | Note: Official Rafael page stating that I-DERBY ER can be used as an interceptor with SPYDER Air Defense Systems and describing the extended-range variant. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Rafael Derby history pagePublisher: Rafael | Note: Official Rafael history article describing Derby's late-1980s origin as a radar-guided BVR missile and its development history. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Rafael ESG report 2022-2023Publisher: Rafael | Note: Rafael ESG report stating that Derby has been sold worldwide since 1998. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Defense News Czech I-Derby ER orderPublisher: Defense News | Note: Reports the Czech Republic will spend $120 million on 48 I-DERBY ER missiles, implying a reported unit price of about $2.5 million each. | Accessed: 2026-06-27Janes IAF I-Derby ER reportPublisher: Janes | Note: Janes reports that an earlier Derby variant configured as a surface-to-air missile was part of the Indian Air Force's Spyder-SR batteries acquired from Rafael and delivered from 2012. | Accessed: 2026-06-21ThePrint friendly-fire probePublisher: ThePrint | Note: 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes: used by Indian air-defense forces; ThePrint reported that the Mi-17 was hit by a missile fired by the Israeli-made Spyder air defence system during the 27 February 2019 friendly-fire incident. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Wikimedia Commons Derby missile filePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license provenance page for the Derby missile image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Wikimedia Commons Rafael I-Derby Missiles filePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license provenance page for the I-Derby missile mockup image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21Wikimedia Commons Spyder missile system filePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license provenance page for the SPYDER launcher image used in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-21