SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Following the successful deployment of the Rampage Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) during Operation Sindoor in May 2025, which saw Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar jets strike Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Sukkur, the IAF is now evaluating the acquisition of the Air LORA, a deep stand-off variant of the Long-Range Artillery (LORA) precision strike tactical missile developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) according to sources cited by idrw.org.
The Rampage ALCM, a 250-km-range missile integrated with the IAF’s Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, and Jaguar fleets, proved its mettle during Operation Sindoor, where it destroyed a UAV hangar at Sukkur, contributing to strikes on 11 PAF airbases. Locally manufactured in India under a partnership with IAI, the Rampage offers high-speed, precision strikes but requires launch aircraft to operate relatively close to hostile airspace, increasing exposure to advanced air defenses like Pakistan’s HQ-9 and LY-80 systems. The Air LORA, showcased at Aero India 2025, addresses this limitation with its extended 400-km range, allowing IAF platforms like the Su-30 MKI to engage targets from safer distances, well beyond the reach of enemy anti-aircraft systems.
Developed by IAI’s MALAM division, the Air LORA is an air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) designed to penetrate fortified targets, including tactical surface-to-surface missile (SSM) sites, multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) units, airbases, air and missile defense systems, command posts, and critical military infrastructure. With a launch weight of approximately 1,600 kg, the missile features a supersonic trajectory, advanced INS/GPS navigation, and robust GNSS anti-jamming capabilities, ensuring high accuracy and survivability in contested environments. Its “fire-and-forget” system and compatibility with blast fragmentation or deep-penetration warheads make it versatile for both hardened and soft targets, minimizing collateral damage. A single Su-30 MKI can carry up to four Air LORA missiles, providing significant firepower for deep-strike missions.
The IAF’s interest in Air LORA builds on a growing partnership with IAI, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at Aero India 2023 between IAI and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). The MoU, aligned with India’s “Make in India” initiative, designates BEL as the prime contractor for the domestic manufacture of the LORA weapon system for India’s tri-services, with IAI providing technology transfer. While the Indian Navy has already inducted the ground- and sea-launched LORA variants, the Air LORA’s integration into the IAF would mark a significant upgrade in aerial strike capabilities, particularly for preemptive or retaliatory operations against high-value targets deep inside Pakistan or along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
The Air LORA’s 400-km range and 10-meter CEP offer a strategic advantage over the Rampage, enabling strikes on targets as far as Karachi or Rawalpindi from Indian airspace, without requiring aircraft to approach contested borders. This capability is critical given Pakistan’s improving air defenses and China’s advanced systems like the HQ-9, which pose risks to IAF aircraft operating near hostile territory. The missile’s supersonic speed and evasive maneuvers further enhance its ability to penetrate defenses, making it a potent tool for neutralizing time-sensitive targets, such as terrorist infrastructure or command centers, as demonstrated during Operation Sindoor.
The IAF’s evaluation of Air LORA comes amid a broader push to enhance long-range precision strike capabilities, driven by lessons from recent India-Pakistan clashes. The 2019 Balakot airstrike and the May 2025 drone battles highlighted the need for stand-off weapons to minimize risks to pilots while ensuring mission success. The Air LORA’s ability to integrate seamlessly with platforms like the Su-30 MKI, which already carries the BrahMos ALCM (400–500 km range) and Rampage, makes it a natural fit for the IAF’s multi-role fleet. Discussions are also underway to explore its integration with Rafale and Tejas Mk-1A jets, further expanding its operational flexibility.
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