Alfa (rocket)

Alfa was the designation of an Italian solid propellant IRBM program that started in 1971 under the control of the GRS (Gruppo di Realizzazione Speciale Interforze). Starting as a development effort for a study on efficient solid-propellant rockets, the Alfa rocket was planned as two-stage rocket. Test launches with upper stage mockup from Salto di Quirra took place between 1973 and 1975.

The Alfa was 6.5 m long and had a diameter of 1.37 m. The first stage of the Alfa was 3.85 m long and contained 6 t of solid rocket fuel. It supplied a thrust of 232 kN for a duration of 57 seconds.

It was capable of carrying a warhead of 1 Mt and had a range of 1600 km, which meant that it could reach all eastern countries and the western USSR if launched from frigates or destroyers in the Adriatic Sea. Around 40 missiles were produced before 1976. Italy has been active in the space sector since 1957, conducting launch and control operations from the Luigi Broglio Space Centre. The advanced Scout and Vega launchers currently used by the European Space Agency (ESA) derive their technological basis partially from Alfa studies. An Alfa rocket is currently displayed at the Cameri Museum in Novara department.