Gabriel Missile
#Israeli
#GabrielMissile
#Estonia
#Singapore
#SeatoSea_Missile
The Gabriel missile is a family of Israeli-developed anti-ship cruise missiles, first introduced in the 1960s and continuously upgraded over the decades.
Designed for sea-skimming flight to evade radar detection, Gabriel missiles have been widely adopted by the Israeli Navy and exported to numerous countries. 
Overview of Gabriel Missile Variants
Variant Introduced Range Guidance System Warhead Notable Features
Gabriel Mk 1 1972 ~20 km Semi-active radar homing 100 kg HE First operational sea-skimming missile
Gabriel Mk 2 1976 ~36–38 km Semi-active radar homing 100 kg HE Improved range and reliability
Gabriel Mk 3 1978 36–60 km Active radar homing 150 kg HE Introduced “fire-and-forget” capability
Gabriel Mk 4 1990s ~200 km Active radar with data link 240 kg HE Turbojet engine, extended range, data link updates
Gabriel Mk 5 2020s 200–400 km Advanced active radar seeker Not specified Optimized for littoral combat, AI-enhanced guidance
Key Features
• Sea-Skimming Flight: Gabriel missiles fly at low altitudes over the sea surface, making them harder to detect and intercept. 
• Guidance Systems:
• Early variants (Mk 1 & Mk 2) use semi-active radar homing, requiring target illumination by the launch platform.
• Later variants (Mk 3 onwards) employ active radar homing, allowing “fire-and-forget” capability.
• Gabriel Mk 4 introduces in-flight updates via data link, enhancing flexibility against moving targets.
• Gabriel Mk 5 features an advanced active radar seeker optimized for cluttered littoral environments, with AI-enhanced target discrimination.  
• Propulsion:
• Mk 1 to Mk 3 utilize solid propellant rocket motors.
• Mk 4 and Mk 5 are equipped with turbojet engines, extending their range and allowing sustained subsonic flight. 
Global Operators
Gabriel missiles have been exported to various countries, including: 
• Finland: Deployed Gabriel Mk 5 for coastal defense.
• Estonia: Acquired the Blue Spear missile system, a derivative of Gabriel Mk 5, for coastal defense. 
• Singapore: Collaborated with Israel to develop the Blue Spear missile system; plans to equip Formidable-class frigates. 
• Taiwan: Developed the Hsiung Feng I missile based on Gabriel Mk 2. 
• South Africa: Produced the Skerpioen missile, a licensed version of Gabriel Mk 2. 
Operational History
• Yom Kippur War (1973): Gabriel Mk 1 missiles were used effectively by the Israeli Navy during the Battle of Latakia, marking the first naval engagement involving surface-to-surface missiles. 
• Recent Developments: In September 2022, the Israeli Navy successfully test-fired the Gabriel Mk 5 missile, demonstrating its enhanced capabilities in modern naval warfare. 
#Finland
#SouthAfrica
For more detailed information on the Gabriel missile family, you can visit the Missile Threat - CSIS page or the Wikipedia article.
