Editing Intermediate-range ballistic missile (section)

==History==
The progenitor for the IRBM was the [[Aggregate (rocket family)#A4b/A9|A4b rocket]], winged for increased range and based on the famous [[V-2 rocket|V-2]], Vergeltung, or "Reprisal", officially called [[Aggregate series|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 [[Aggregate (rocket family)#A9|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#Winged rockets|Amerika Bomber]]).<ref name="v2werk-oberraderach"/>

A4b rockets were tested a few times in December 1944 and January and February 1945.<ref name="v2werk-oberraderach">{{cite web |url=http://www.v2werk-oberraderach.de/Irrtuemer/5-I.htm |title=Die geflügelte Rakete (A7, A9, A4b) (in German) |publisher=V2werk-oberraderach.de |access-date=2011-07-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719111841/http://www.v2werk-oberraderach.de/Irrtuemer/5-I.htm |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}</ref> 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.{{cn|date=June 2022}}

IRBMs are currently{{when?|date=June 2022}} operated by the People's Republic of China, India,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Indian-Army-Successfully-Test-Fires-Nuke-Capable-Agni-IV-Missile/2015/11/09/article3121243.ece|title=Indian Army Successfully Test Fires Nuke-Capable Agni-IV Missile|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2016-03-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405175541/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Indian-Army-Successfully-Test-Fires-Nuke-Capable-Agni-IV-Missile/2015/11/09/article3121243.ece|archive-date=2016-04-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ballistic-missile-Agni-IV-test-fired-as-part-of-user-trial/articleshow/49720522.cms|title=Ballistic missile Agni-IV test-fired as part of user trial |website=The Times of India|date=9 November 2015 |access-date=2016-03-25|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121044007/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ballistic-missile-Agni-IV-test-fired-as-part-of-user-trial/articleshow/49720522.cms|archive-date=2016-01-21}}</ref> Israel, North Korea,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/Missile_Issue_Brief.pdf|title=North Korea's Ballistic Missile Program|website=National Committee on North Korea|access-date=2016-04-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222051359/http://www.ncnk.org/resources/publications/Missile_Issue_Brief.pdf|archive-date=2016-02-22}}</ref> and Russia.<ref name=bbcrussiairbm>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine war latest: Putin says Russia hit Ukraine with new intermediate-range ballistic missile |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c20726y20kvt?post=asset:47fd8644-8538-475d-a3cc-6f5714f0d191#post |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Putin says Russia struck Ukraine’s Dnipro with new experimental ballistic missile |url=https://meduza.io/en/news/2024/11/21/putin-says-russia-struck-ukraine-s-dnipro-with-new-experimental-ballistic-missile |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=Meduza |language=en}}</ref> The United States, USSR, Pakistan, United Kingdom, and France were former operators.{{cn|date=June 2022}}