IAI Successfully Tests Long-Range Precision Strike Ballistic Missile

[Researcher Sanghyun Park, Aviation Guidance Research Team 3, Defense Agency for Technology and Quality] On the 2nd, Israeli company IAI announced the successful completion of a launch test (sea target strike) of two long-range precision strike (LORA) ballistic missiles. The test involved firing at sea targets at ranges of 90 km and 400 km to verify the advanced performance of the LORA ballistic missile, and the missiles accurately hit both targets.

An IAI official stated, "The launch ranges this time are similar to the minimum and maximum ranges of the ballistic missile, and improvements were made to the electronic devices and algorithms to enhance accuracy," adding, "It can be mounted on any type of ship and can receive target information from multiple acquisition sources."

The test was conducted with support from the Israeli military, and to comply with safety requirements for this type of test, a ground-based LORA ballistic missile launcher was mounted on a ship. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the test was also conducted remotely.

The LORA ballistic missile developed by IAI is a surface-to-surface missile with an accuracy level of 10 meters Circular Error Probable (CEP), capable of carrying penetrating and fragmentation warheads weighing over 200 kg, and uses GPS/INS guidance.

IAI mentioned that the LORA ballistic missile is used as a ship-based weapon by multiple countries. The only confirmed operator is the Azerbaijani military, which reportedly first displayed a ground-based LORA missile launcher in June 2018. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense stated that the missile has a range of 300 km and carries a 240 kg warhead. The reason this is shorter than the 430 km range stated on IAI’s official site appears to be because Israel is not a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) but complies with the MTCR’s 300 km range limit. For Israeli Defense Forces use, a missile with a 430 km range seems to have been developed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.