India's military capabilities could soon experience a major upgrade, as Israel has reportedly extended an exclusive offer to supply New Delhi with the Golden Horizon Air-Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM).
Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, this advanced weapon system is intended to target heavily fortified, high-value assets rather than ordinary battlefield positions.
If finalised, this deal would make India the first and only nation to receive this specific strategic capability, marking a new chapter in its deep-strike operations.
This potential acquisition aligns perfectly with the Indian Air Force's ongoing efforts to diversify its arsenal of stand-off weapons.
Open-source defence reports suggest the Golden Horizon is being tailored specifically for seamless integration with India’s frontline Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets.
By incorporating such technology, India aims to build a comprehensive, multi-layered strike capability that spans from close-combat munitions to formidable, long-distance strategic deterrents.
The technology driving the Golden Horizon is heavily based on Israel’s Silver Sparrow—a massive target missile originally built to simulate enemy ballistic threats during air defence testing.
The original Silver Sparrow measures over eight metres in length and weighs more than 3,000 kilograms. By modifying this testing apparatus into a live, combat-ready ALBM, Israel has created an imposing weapon.
Launched from an airborne platform, it transforms from a mere test surrogate into a devastating asset capable of striking deep within hostile territory.
Although exact technical specifications remain classified, defence experts estimate the operational range of the Golden Horizon from a fighter jet to be around 800 kilometres, while its overarching ballistic capabilities might reach anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 kilometres under ideal high-altitude launch conditions.
This extensive reach allows Indian pilots to launch strikes from safe distances, completely out of the grasp of sophisticated adversary surface-to-air missile (SAM) networks and beyond-visual-range threats along hostile borders.
Israel already supplies India with highly effective tactical weapons, such as the Rampage and Air LORA missiles, which boast ranges of 250 and 400 kilometres respectively. These systems are highly effective at destroying radar installations and ammunition depots.
However, the Golden Horizon operates on an entirely different level. It is purposefully engineered to annihilate deeply buried and heavily reinforced structures, such as subterranean command bunkers or shielded nuclear facilities, which standard air-to-surface missiles simply cannot breach.
Once dropped from a fighter aircraft, the missile follows a high-arcing ballistic trajectory, soaring towards near-space altitudes before diving toward its target. During this terminal phase, the weapon reaches hypersonic speeds, reported to be above Mach 5.
This extreme velocity not only makes it exceptionally challenging for modern air defence systems to intercept, but it also generates immense kinetic energy.
When paired with its explosive payload, this sheer speed provides the devastating physical force required to punch through thick layers of concrete and deep earth, neutralising the most secure passive defences.
While there has been no official confirmation of a finalised procurement contract, the timing of this exclusive offer is notable, emerging just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Israel in late February 2026.
If acquired, the Golden Horizon would serve as a vital bridging capability while India’s own indigenous ALBM development programmes mature.
Ultimately, equipping the Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet with this weapon would fundamentally shift regional deterrence dynamics, providing a powerful tool for strategic messaging and an unparalleled penetrative force against highly protected targets.
