In its strike on Iran, Israel reportedly deployed the Air LORA ballistic missile for the first time.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) recently launched a significant operation named “Days of Repentance,” targeting numerous Iranian military sites. In a notable development, IAF fighter jets utilized the advanced Air LORA air-launched ballistic missile for the first time during this mission.The Air LORA missile is a modified version of the LORA tactical semi-ballistic missile, traditionally a surface-to-surface weapon.
This new air-launched variant draws parallels to Russia’s Iskander-M, serving as a “remake” of the original LORA ground-based system, much like the transformation of Iskander-M into the Kinzhal missile.The precision of the Air LORA was highlighted during attacks on missile factory workshops in Parchin, showcasing a remarkable minimum error circle of less than 10 meters. This data was captured by the Earth surface surveillance satellite from Planet Labs, Inc., underscoring the missile’s effectiveness in striking critical targets.
The Air LORA ballistic missile boasts an advanced over-the-horizon guidance system and is designed to resist jamming effectively. It can execute complex maneuvers with significant overloads at high speeds, enhancing its ability to evade interception.Recent reports suggest that the Air LORA targeted two to four battalions of Iran’s S-300PMU-2 air defense systems, strategically positioned to protect the airspace above the Parchin facility.
The Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) even released a video showcasing the Air LORA’s capability to neutralize S-300PMU-2 and S-400 systems, creating a “dead crater” beyond the detection range of the 30N6E and 92N6E radar systems.In light of these developments, Russian analysts noted that the shortcomings of Iran’s air defense were linked to the inadequate dispersal of ground-based radars, which left critical blind spots vulnerable to attack.In addition to the Air LORA, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) employs ROCKS ballistic missiles, capable of striking targets up to 500 km away, along with various versions of the Sparrow missile family (including Black Sparrow, Blue Sparrow, and Silver Sparrow) that can reach combat ranges of 2,000 km.
Notably, the Blue Sparrow missile, primarily designed as a target for testing Israel’s air defense systems, can also carry a high-explosive warhead. The long-range ROCKS missile shares a similar booster design with the Sparrow series.Interestingly, during this operation, the Iranian Air Force did not attempt to intercept Israeli F-16I, F-15I, and F-35I fighters as they approached the missile launch site over neighboring Iraq, leaving the reasons for this inaction unclear.