IAF Fast-Tracks Large-Scale Acquisition for Israeli 'Rampage' Precision Strike Missiles Following Recent Success in Op Sindoor

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is expediting the purchase of a large quantity of Israeli-made 'Rampage' precision missiles, following their effective performance in recent cross-border strikes.

Defence sources confirm that the successful use of these weapons during 'Operation Sindoor' in May 2025 has spurred the move to bolster the nation's long-range strike capabilities through a fast-tracked acquisition process.

The decision comes after the missiles, designated as HSLD-Mark 2 (High-Speed Low Drag-Mark 2) in Indian service, were instrumental in 'Operation Sindoor'. The operation, conducted from May 6 to 10, was a retaliatory action following a terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

Official sources reported that Rampage missiles, launched from Su-30 MKI fighters, precisely destroyed the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Muridke and Jaish-e-Mohammed facilities in Bahawalpur, located deep within Pakistan's Punjab province.

Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in partnership with Elbit Systems, the Rampage is an advanced air-to-ground supersonic missile. It is designed to hit high-value, well-protected targets from a stand-off distance of over 250 kilometres.

Its effectiveness comes from a combination of a powerful warhead and a sophisticated navigation system using GPS and inertial guidance, which allows it to operate in all weather conditions and evade enemy air defence systems.

The key strategic advantage offered by the Rampage missile is its stand-off capability. By launching the weapon from well outside the engagement range of enemy surface-to-air missile systems, the IAF can neutralize critical targets without exposing its fighter jets and pilots to significant risk.

The missile is already integrated with the IAF's Su-30 MKI, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fighters, as well as the Indian Navy's MiG-29K fleet. The air force is also exploring its integration with the indigenous Tejas Mk1A fighter to further enhance operational flexibility.

During the coordinated strikes of 'Operation Sindoor', other assets were also deployed alongside the Rampage. This included Rafale jets using SCALP cruise missiles and Mirage 2000 aircraft delivering Spice-2000 precision bombs, demonstrating a multi-platform approach to the deep-strike mission.

This accelerated procurement of the Rampage missile system signals India's strategic priority to enhance its precision long-range firepower.

The move is not only aimed at strengthening the country's military deterrence but also aligns with the national 'Make in India' policy, which encourages domestic defence production and technology transfer.

The successful combat debut of the missile has solidified its place as a critical asset for the Indian armed forces.

 

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[sanket]

Need to develop a similar indigenous missile. A large-scale order of the Rampage Missile... to extract the maximum potential of this stand-off. Dassault needs to agree to the integration of indigenous as well as third-party weapons on its capable fighter jet, the Rafale.

Israeli weapons like the SPICE-ER/Rampage can be integrated on every platform apart from the French. A combo of the Rafale with Israeli weapons will be more impactful. The Rafale is more specific in ground attack, while the Su-30 MKI has a high RCS compared to the Rafale.

If the IAF is going to order a large scale or even local license production, before that, make sure Dassault is also convinced of integrating a third-party weapon as well, where it lacks a weapon variant package. It has only the Meteor and SCALP-EG as a major attraction. Even the Mirage-2000 too is integrated with the Rampage Missile.

If Dassault denies, then we need to fast-track the indigenous development of a similar category missile for integration on the Rafale as well as the Mirage-2000, which lack a similar category missile in their weapon package.

 

[Warfighter]

We should push for co-development and local production of future standoff weapons with Israel.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Need to develop a similar indigenous missile. A large-scale order of the Rampage Missile... to extract the maximum potential of this stand-off. Dassault needs to agree to the integration of indigenous as well as third-party weapons on its capable fighter jet, the Rafale.

Israeli weapons like the SPICE-ER/Rampage can be integrated on every platform apart from the French. A combo of the Rafale with Israeli weapons will be more impactful. The Rafale is more specific in ground attack, while the Su-30 MKI has a high RCS compared to the Rafale.

If the IAF is going to order a large scale or even local license production, before that, make sure Dassault is also convinced of integrating a third-party weapon as well, where it lacks a weapon variant package. It has only the Meteor and SCALP-EG as a major attraction. Even the Mirage-2000 too is integrated with the Rampage Missile.

If Dassault denies, then we need to fast-track the indigenous development of a similar category missile for integration on the Rafale as well as the Mirage-2000, which lack a similar category missile in their weapon package.

Maybe in the next 5-10 years, they will develop Pinaka 300KM S2S and A2S variants. Its A2S variant should be integrated with all IAF fighter jets. Until that time, use Rampage.

 

[Mohamed Suleiman]

Does India really need Israeli projectiles when it has so many better ones? It erodes foreign buyers of Indian missiles as they see India itself buys foreign.

 

[Parveen Gahlot]

Good move by MOD. DRDO need to develop such missiles like Rampage, Scalp etc with even more range.

 

[Abhishek Nag]

At a time India losing $50bn in exports while imports jumping, India shouldn't be importing much defence equipment. The MRFA can be delayed if already Mk1A ordered and engines are coming. Rafale delivery schedule will be same as Mk1A if ordered end of 2025.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Does India really need Israeli projectiles when it has so many better ones? It erodes foreign buyers of Indian missiles as they see India itself buys foreign.

It will take a few years for Rudram 3. I think Rudram 1 and 2 should be ordered in large numbers. But a Rampage-like missile may be much more economical. Once we develop higher-range Pinaka missiles, we can have their A2G variants as well.

 

[Enforcer]

Great. But we really needed anti-radiation missiles. We currently have none and it's a gap in our capabilities.

 

[R. Singh]

We should seek tech for Rampage and ROCKS stand off missiles from Israel !

 

[Sandeep]

This is the wrong answer and approach completely. The main weapons we used in sindoor was the Brahmos and kamikaze drones as India hasn’t said that they used the rampage missile or what targets did they hit.

India should only purchase a small number of missiles to meet our immediate requirements. At the same time they need to concentrate and 100% indigenously design, develop and manufacture the Rudram MK1-4 missiles. We need to focus more on developing these critical long range missiles as they will be more advanced. They will also hit the target at hypersonic speeds and with a large warhead then they can create a lot of damage and destroy the target completely.