Alfa (Italian Missile)

History

The Aeritalia Alfa was a prototype ballistic missile originating from the Italian indigenous missile program, enacted after the potential delivery for Polaris missiles from the United States did not go through.

This program originated out of the 1960s Italian nuclear weapons program, which saw the nation attempting to bring itself to par with the increasing number of neighbours developing their own nuclear weapons. One of the plans of the Italian military was to extensively modify the light cruiser Giuseppe Garibaldi to incorporate 4 launch tubes for American-designed Polaris nuclear missiles. This ship would have allowed the Marina Militare extensive range, including many Eastern European nations and potentially the USSR itself. Due to the non-proliferation agreements and treaty in the late 1960s, this plan with the United States in mind fell through and Italy decided to develop its own nuclear-capable missile.

The Alfa project was started in 1971, and reportedly was regarded as a "'technology program intented to develop high power solid-propellant boosters for civil and military applications." They were successful in the design phase of the missile, as a few years later they had working prototypes that were tested from 1973-1976 (sources vary on if it started in 1974 or 1973). Due to American pressure, Italy abandoned both the missile and nuclear projects after the final tests in 1976. According to Astronautix.com, the missile had a 100% success rate during its test launch phase.

The overall missile had a mass of 8,000 kg, a length of 3.85 m, a height of 6.5 m and diameter of 1.37 m.

Used on

• C551 Giuseppe Garibaldi (Never Fielded)

See also

https://web.archive.org/web/20110605135736/http://www.friends-partners.org/partners/mwade/lvs/alfa.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfa_(rocket)