01In brief
Griffin is an Israeli-developed air-to-ground weapon identified in a 1998 survey and later listed among Israel’s advanced armament. The 1998 source groups it with Pyramid, Opher, Guillotine, and Popeye as “electro-optically and laser-guided air-to-ground weapons.” INSS inventories updated November 20, 2014, and January 31, 2016, list Griffin under “Bombs.” None of the sources provides enough weapon-specific detail to determine Griffin’s individual guidance method, design, or performance.
02Overview
Griffin appears in sources as an Israeli-developed air-to-ground weapon and as an item in Israel’s advanced-armament inventories.[1][2] The Washington Institute’s collective description does not establish Griffin’s individual guidance method. The 2016 INSS inventory places it in the “Bombs” category but gives no separate specifications.[1][2]
03Origins
The available sources do not state when Griffin was developed, introduced, or entered service. The earliest verified reference is a 1998 Washington Institute monograph, which names Griffin among weapons developed by Israeli industry.[1] INSS inventories from 2014 and 2016 show that the name remained present in published lists of Israel’s advanced armament.[3][2]
04Practice
The sources do not provide Griffin-specific operating details. The 1998 monograph uses a collective guidance description for several weapons.[1] The INSS inventories simply place Griffin under bombs.[3][2] Consequently, the available record does not establish its individual guidance method or other technical characteristics.[1][2]
05Significance
Griffin’s significance in the verified record is its repeated inclusion in overviews of Israeli weapons. It was identified in 1998 within a group of guided air-to-ground weapons.[1] It appeared under bombs in both the 2014 and 2016 INSS inventories.[3][2] These sources do not document production totals, operational use, or combat performance, so broader claims about its role cannot be substantiated from the available material.[1][2]
06Controversies
The sources categorize Griffin at different levels. The 1998 monograph groups it with electro-optically and laser-guided air-to-ground weapons.[1] The 2014 and 2016 INSS inventories place it under bombs.[3][2] Because none provides a Griffin-specific description, the available evidence does not show whether these labels conflict or reflect complementary classifications.[1][2]
Sources
- 1The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 2Institute for National Security Studies, January 2016 Inventory, accessed on November 4, 2026.
- 3Institute for National Security Studies, November 2014 Inventory, accessed on November 4, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is Griffin?
Griffin is an Israeli-developed air-to-ground weapon that appears in overviews of Israel’s advanced armament. A 1998 source grouped it with several weapons described collectively as electro-optically and laser-guided air-to-ground weapons, while INSS inventories listed it under “Bombs.” The available sources do not establish Griffin’s individual guidance method, design, or performance.
When was Griffin developed or introduced?
The available sources do not state when Griffin was developed, introduced, or entered service. The earliest verified reference is a 1998 Washington Institute monograph, which names Griffin among weapons developed by Israeli industry.
How is Griffin classified in published inventories?
INSS inventories updated November 20, 2014, and January 31, 2016, list Griffin under “Bombs.” The 1998 Washington Institute monograph instead groups Griffin with electro-optically and laser-guided air-to-ground weapons. The sources do not explain whether these labels conflict or represent complementary classifications.
What is known about Griffin’s guidance and technical characteristics?
The available sources do not establish Griffin’s individual guidance method or other technical characteristics. The 1998 monograph provides a collective guidance description for several weapons, while the INSS inventories give no separate specifications for Griffin.
What is known about Griffin’s operational use or performance?
The available sources do not document Griffin’s operational use, production totals, or combat performance. They identify the weapon in published overviews and inventories but do not provide evidence to substantiate broader claims about its role.