Derby surface-to-air missile

Rafael's Derby is an Israeli active-radar missile family that can be configured for SPYDER surface-to-air use. India fielded the system in its SPYDER-SR air-defense batteries during the 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes, when a friendly-fire Mi-17 shootdown exposed the pressure on the Kashmir air-defense network.

2019 India-Pakistan Border SkirmishesIndia

Conflict side: India
Built by: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Built in: Israel

Derby surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-air missile family, Munitions

Image source: Wikimedia Commons Rafael I-Derby Missiles file

Profile

Type: Surface-to-air missile family
Conflict side: India
Origin: Israel
Service note: 1990s-present

air defense SAM

Service History

In service: Fielded by the Indian Air Force in SPYDER-SR air-defense batteries from 2012.
Used by: Indian Air Force
Wars: 2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes

Production History

Built by: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems
Built in: Israel
Variants: I-Derby, I-Derby ER

Specifications

Guidance: Active radar homing
Launch mode: SPYDER-SR/MR mobile air-defense launcher
Employment: Dual-use air-to-air and air-to-surface missile
Range class: Short- to medium-range interceptor

Conflict Usage

2019 India-Pakistan Border Skirmishes: Side: IndiaRole: Short-range air-defense interceptorair defense
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.

Derby surface-to-air missile Images

Derby surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-air missile family, Munitions - view 1 — Source: Wikimedia Commons Rafael I-Derby Missiles file

Derby surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-air missile family, Munitions - view 2 — Source: Wikimedia Commons Derby missile file

Derby surface-to-air missile, Surface-to-air missile family, Munitions - view 3 — 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: 2026-06-21 Janes 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: 2026-06-21 ThePrint 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: 2026-06-21 Wikimedia Commons Derby missile filePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license provenance page for the Derby missile image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Wikimedia Commons Rafael I-Derby Missiles filePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license provenance page for the I-Derby missile mockup image. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Wikimedia 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