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Following the effective use of the Rampage missile in a recent cross-border operation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is reportedly exploring the acquisition of an even more powerful long-range weapon.
According to defence sources, the IAF is considering the Air LORA, an Israeli-developed missile with a 400-kilometre range, to enhance its capability to strike targets deep inside enemy territory while minimising risk to its aircraft.
This move comes after the successful operational debut of the 250-km range Rampage air-launched cruise missile during "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025. In that engagement, IAF Jaguar aircraft successfully struck Pakistan Air Force Base Sukkur.
While the locally manufactured Rampage proved effective, its use highlighted a key vulnerability: launch aircraft must fly relatively close to heavily defended airspace, exposing them to advanced surface-to-air missile systems like Pakistan's Chinese-origin HQ-9 and LY-80.
The Air LORA, with its superior range, would allow IAF jets such as the Su-30 MKI to launch attacks from well within the safety of Indian airspace.
Developed by the MALAM division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Air LORA is a formidable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM). It is specifically designed to destroy high-value, fortified targets such as underground command centres, air defence units, and critical military infrastructure.
The missile, weighing around 1,600 kg, travels at supersonic speeds and is guided by an advanced navigation system resistant to electronic jamming, ensuring high precision.
Its "fire-and-forget" capability, combined with options for either a blast-fragmentation or a deep-penetration warhead, makes it a versatile weapon for various strategic missions.
A single Su-30 MKI fighter can be armed with up to four Air LORA missiles, representing a significant concentration of firepower.
The potential procurement is strengthened by an existing industrial partnership aligned with India's "Make in India" policy.
During the Aero India exhibition in 2023, IAI signed a MoU with the state-owned Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). This agreement positions BEL as the primary contractor for manufacturing the LORA weapon system in India for the army, navy, and air force, with IAI providing the necessary technology.
While ground- and sea-launched versions of the LORA are already being inducted by the Indian Navy, its integration into the IAF would represent a major leap in aerial stand-off capability.
The strategic advantage of the Air LORA lies in its ability to overcome the limitations of current systems.
Its 400-km range and an accuracy of within 10 meters (Circular Error Probable) would enable the IAF to threaten key strategic locations from a safe distance, a critical factor given the increasingly sophisticated air defence networks of potential adversaries.
Lessons from recent conflicts, including the 2019 Balakot airstrike, have underscored the need for long-range precision weapons that ensure mission success without endangering pilots.
The IAF’s interest in the Air LORA is part of a broader strategy to build a multi-layered, long-range strike arsenal. The missile would complement the existing BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (with a range of over 400 km) and the Rampage missile, providing commanders with a flexible range of options.
Discussions are reportedly also underway to assess the feasibility of integrating the Air LORA with other frontline aircraft in the IAF's fleet, including the Rafale and the indigenous Tejas Mk-1A jets.
