OVERVIEW: The Python 4 is a fourth-generation, short-range, infrared-guided air-to-air missile featuring an 11 kg blast-fragmentation warhead and a maximum range of up to 18 km.

DETAILS: Developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the Python 4 entered service in the early 1990s as a successor to the Python 3. It introduced significant advancements, including a dual-band infrared seeker with high off-boresight capability, allowing engagements at angles up to 60 degrees from the aircraft's axis. The missile is compatible with helmet-mounted sight systems, such as Elbit Systems' DASH, enabling pilots to lock onto targets by simply looking at them. Its high maneuverability, achieved through aerodynamic design and thrust vector control, allows it to perform high-G turns, making it effective in close-combat scenarios. The Python-4 also features advanced infrared counter-countermeasures (IRCCM) to resist enemy flares and other decoys.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Length: 3.0 m
Diameter: 160 mm
Wingspan: 0.64 m / 640 mm
Weight: 105 kg
Warhead: 11 kg high-explosive blast-fragmentation
Guidance: Dual-band infrared homing with IRCCM

Range: 18 km (max)
Speed: ~ Mach 2

NOTES:
IOC: 1993
Platforms: F-15, F-16, F-5, Mirage III, Mirage 5, Kfir, JAS 39 Gripen, HAL Tejas, and others
Operators: Israel, India, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, Peru, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam

SOURCES:
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems; GlobalSecurity; Air Power Australia; Wikipedia; FlightGlobal 

