IAF's Dual Strategy to Enhance Long-Range Strike Power: Securing Israeli Rampage Local Production and Developing Airborne Pinaka-IV

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is advancing a two-part strategy to significantly boost its long-range precision strike capabilities.

The plan involves the domestic production of the proven Israeli Rampage missile alongside the development of an air-launched version of the indigenous Pinaka-IV rocket system, aiming to enhance both immediate operational readiness and long-term self-reliance in national defence.

Localising a Proven Weapon​

Following the reported effective use of the Israeli-designed Rampage missile in recent conflicts, the IAF is moving to have the weapon manufactured in India.

The Rampage is a supersonic, air-to-ground missile with a range of approximately 250 kilometres, capable of carrying a 150 kg warhead to destroy high-value, protected targets.

Reports indicate the missile was successfully deployed from the IAF's Sukhoi-30 MKI and Rafale fighter jets, reinforcing its value as a critical standoff asset.

In line with the government's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) policy, an agreement has reportedly been reached with Israel for licensed production.

This initiative will see an Indian defence company, possibly a state-owned enterprise like Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) or a private firm, collaborate with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

This move is expected to ensure a consistent supply of the missiles, lower procurement costs, improve maintenance and support within the country, and integrate Indian industry into the weapon's global supply chain. Production facilities for the missile are anticipated to be established by mid-2026.

Developing an Indigenous Standoff Solution​

Concurrently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on an ambitious project to create an air-launched variant of its Pinaka-IV rocket.

The Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher system that has been a cornerstone of the Indian Army's artillery. The upcoming ground-launched Pinaka-IV is being designed to strike targets at distances between 250 and 300 kilometres.

DRDO has proposed adapting this system for the IAF, creating a long-range cruise missile that can be fired from fighter jets. This would provide a cost-effective, domestically produced weapon for engaging targets deep inside enemy territory, keeping IAF aircraft safely outside the range of hostile air defence systems.

The air-launched Pinaka-IV is planned to be compatible with a wide range of IAF fighters, including the Su-30 MKI, Rafale, Mirage 2000, and the indigenous Tejas LCA, offering significant operational flexibility.

Strategic Goals and Technical Path Forward​

This dual approach allows the IAF to diversify its arsenal. The local production of the Rampage provides a combat-tested and reliable weapon for immediate needs, while the development of the airborne Pinaka-IV represents a strategic investment in India's own defence industrial base.

To make the Pinaka-IV suitable for aerial launch, DRDO will need to address technical challenges, including modifying the rocket's structure for flight stability and integrating advanced guidance systems for precision accuracy at long ranges.

However, DRDO's extensive experience with the Pinaka family and other advanced missile programs like the Rudram provides a strong foundation for success.

The push for advanced Pinaka systems is also supported by the Indian Army, which is seeking newer variants to modernise its own long-range firepower.

The successful adaptation of this ground-based system for the air force would mark a major achievement in creating versatile, multi-platform weapon systems within India.

 

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[sanket]

Nice. Rampage launch from Rafale? When did Dassault integrate the Rampage missile on Rafale? It is taking time for Astra Mk1 missile integration. How quickly did they integrate it on Rafale? Is it true, an Israeli missile on a French platform? Then why not Meteor on other indigenous platforms like Tejas Mk1A, Tejas Mk2, AMCA, etc.? Good to know DRDO is quickly learning from the shortcomings and is ready to develop an air-launched version of Pinaka, which will also be a very cost-effective alternative. That's what's expected rather than going for the import option.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Pakistan has 400km MRLS we should not lag behind. An air launch variant and one for navy will be cost effective.

 

[Radha Ramanan]

That decision is a good one, i.e., to make the airborne version of the Pinaka. The idea is definitely incorporating the tech from the Rampage into the Pinaka. The unjammable GPS receiver is the main component, as well as cutting-edge guidance software along with a miniature FOG, i.e., fiber optic gyro. We have the tech and sometimes we import the stuff from France for our missiles as well. Mr. Satheesh Reddy, the retired chief of DRDO, is a world-renowned expert in this field and is the man who developed all the high-tech gyros for our nuclear missiles as well.

There is another more deadlier weapon than the Rampage: it's called the LORA missile. There are two versions, the ground-launched and the air-launched. Again, from Israel. It's a big missile. The ground-launched version itself has a range of 450 km, and the air-launched version more than 1000 km! Israel used it to deadly effect when it took out the much-vaunted S-300 SAMs of Iran. Nothing could stop it, and with it Israel took out the whole air defence of Iran, i.e., from radars, missiles, launchers. Iran will never get replacements as Russia has its own problems. This brought Iran to its senses. As of now, Iran only boasts. There is a ship-launched version as well. This has seekers as well, so it's deadly accurate. The good thing is that we are making both of them in India under licensed production.

There is another problem. China has seen the effectiveness of the Rampage, and we can be sure to see the replica on the JF-17 and J-10 in a matter of time; they have all the tech and money. What is perplexing is why more targets were not taken out on the PAF airbases with the Rampage.

 

[Leo red]

Wow, think of this: four squadrons of Tejas, each launching four missiles with a range of 300 km from the borders, a total of 288 hitting different enemy locations. I think the next war will end in just one day. Go for it! Start minting immediately.

 

[Enforcer]

I think India is focused on the wrong systems.

First 2 things we need are : LGB/Glide bombs & Anti Radiation missile. With these 2 you can eliminate Air defenses. Once the radars are hit with anti radiation missile, launchers are just sitting ducks that you pick them off with glide bombs.

 

[Sandeep]

What India needs to do is focus more on 100% indigenously designing, developing and manufacturing our own air launched cruise missiles which have a different range and speed. India is currently developing the Rudram missile which has a variety of ranges and it can be used as a general missile which can hit radars or standard targets at a speed of Mach 5.

It’s possible to convert the Pinaka into an air launched missile but it will need to have a lot of internal and external changes along with the type and performance we want the missile to have and achieve. We need to consider things like the engine size, type of propulsion, type of the missile fuel used, external body changes, weight of the rocket, speed of the rocket, type and size of the warhead etc.

The rampage missile is good and it performed very well. What we shouldn’t do is manufacture it under a license and use that as a main missile as we won’t get 100% of the technology or manufacture that amount indigenously. This will leave us heavily reliant on Israel for those critical parts and technology along with it being more expensive. It’s ok to keep a small number in service in case of any emergency but nothing more.

 

[Bhishma]

Karachi is 170 km from the IB. Most of their cities will fall under it. We can disable their key infrastructure for cheap, especially their Karachi port. If we knock it out, it will cause huge internal chaos. This will be useful in Tibet also. Lhasa is 200 km from Tawang.

 

[SK]

I hope we see the trials & induction of Pinaka-4 Rockets with 200+KM.

 

[Sridhar1761]

Again could we have the details please. That's where the devil usually is. Speed is really of the essence, and, therefore, the only question that really needs to be addresed while talking up India's defence modernisation plans is: WHEN? Given India's increasingly hostile neighbourhood and the wholesale realignment of the global power and geopolitical structure, there is little point waxing eloquent over developments that may not bear any real fruit for years