Israel Developing Enhanced LORA Theater Missile
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is Developing Enhanced LORA Theater Missile, its range and capabilities beyond the current 280km variant. The enhanced LORA (Long Range Artillery) will provide greater lethality and flexibility compared to the original version.
LORA fills a unique niche as a precision land attack missile that flies a flatter trajectory than ballistic missiles. This allows it to reach targets faster than artillery while still achieving ranges farther than typical rockets.
The original LORA was developed in the early 2000s as Israel’s first long-range quasi-ballistic system. It can deliver a 600kg warhead up to 400km, with configurable high-explosive, cluster munition, and thermobaric warhead options.
The upgraded LORA variants aim to strike targets at even greater distances with pinpoint precision. Advanced countermeasures will also make the new LORA more resistant against enemy electronic warfare interference.
The missiles can be ground-launched from mobile launchers or ship-launched from maritime platforms.
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LORA has undergone multiple test firings since 2003 and likely entered operational Israeli service around 2007.
The missile has also been exported to Azerbaijan, which deployed LORA to strike Armenian forces during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
At the 2023 Aero India show, India’s Bharat Electronics Ltd signed an agreement with IAI to locally produce LORA missiles. This licensed production will provide India’s military with an upgraded theater quasi-ballistic capability.
Meanwhile, IAI continues to refine other precision-guided missiles like the extended-range JASSM and SPIKE NLOS. As Israel’s major state-owned aerospace company, IAI tailors many of its innovative systems for Israel’s defense needs.
The upgraded LORA theater missile will bolster standoff land attack options for Israel and export partners. Its increased speed, range, and resistance will enable successful engagement of distant targets even in heavily contested environments.
LORA fills a unique role as an all-weather system with sufficient reach to precisely strike time-sensitive threats or infrastructure in enemy rear areas. Its evolution highlights IAI’s commitment to advancing indigenous missile technologies that are shaping the modern battlefield.
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