Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced in early September that the German Navy had successfully completed a dual operational test of the naval version of IAI’s LORA (Long Range Artillery) ballistic missile. The achievement illustrates Israel’s standing as a military-technological power and its contribution to European security.
According to the announcement, two complex test scenarios were conducted, in which the entire weapon system—the command trailer, launcher, and missile—successfully met the test objectives. The missile was launched from an operational German Navy vessel equipped with the command trailer and launcher. In both scenarios, the missile was launched, navigated toward its target, and struck it with maximum precision.
What is the LORA System?
According to open sources based on IAI publications, LORA is an IAI-manufactured platform for launching high-speed, solid-fueled ballistic missiles. The missiles carry a 400–600 kg warhead and are guided by GPS and an inertial navigation system (INS), providing high precision with a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters.
LORA is available in several variants: surface-to-surface, sea-to-sea, sea-to-surface, and air-to-surface (Air LORA). Its aerial variant is classified as a deep standoff weapon, enabling pilots to strike enemy targets from a considerable distance while reducing the risk to aircraft and crews.
The ballistic missile is designed to strike enemy targets at short to medium ranges of up to ~500 km and can be launched from land, naval, or air platforms. Following launch, the missile travels along a high-altitude ballistic trajectory at supersonic speed. As it approaches its target, it shifts from an arcing trajectory to a vertical terminal dive, significantly increasing both its accuracy and the effectiveness of the strike.
The LORA missile has been sold to several countries in Europe and Asia and was first used operationally in 2020 during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Germany’s procurement of the LORA missile system carries both economic and diplomatic significance for Israel. Integrating LORA systems alongside the Arrow 3 interceptor missile systems leverages strategic relations between Israel and Germany and underscores Israel's contribution to European security.
The development also has a historical and symbolic dimension: Eighty years after the end of World War II and the annihilation of European Jewry by the Nazi regime, Israeli defense technologies are now helping protect Germany.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced in early September that the German Navy had successfully completed a dual operational test of the naval version of IAI’s LORA (Long Range Artillery) ballistic missile. The achievement illustrates Israel’s standing as a military-technological power and its contribution to European security.
According to the announcement, two complex test scenarios were conducted, in which the entire weapon system—the command trailer, launcher, and missile—successfully met the test objectives. The missile was launched from an operational German Navy vessel equipped with the command trailer and launcher. In both scenarios, the missile was launched, navigated toward its target, and struck it with maximum precision.
What is the LORA System?
According to open sources based on IAI publications, LORA is an IAI-manufactured platform for launching high-speed, solid-fueled ballistic missiles. The missiles carry a 400–600 kg warhead and are guided by GPS and an inertial navigation system (INS), providing high precision with a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 10 meters.
LORA is available in several variants: surface-to-surface, sea-to-sea, sea-to-surface, and air-to-surface (Air LORA). Its aerial variant is classified as a deep standoff weapon, enabling pilots to strike enemy targets from a considerable distance while reducing the risk to aircraft and crews.
The ballistic missile is designed to strike enemy targets at short to medium ranges of up to ~500 km and can be launched from land, naval, or air platforms. Following launch, the missile travels along a high-altitude ballistic trajectory at supersonic speed. As it approaches its target, it shifts from an arcing trajectory to a vertical terminal dive, significantly increasing both its accuracy and the effectiveness of the strike.
The LORA missile has been sold to several countries in Europe and Asia and was first used operationally in 2020 during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Germany’s procurement of the LORA missile system carries both economic and diplomatic significance for Israel. Integrating LORA systems alongside the Arrow 3 interceptor missile systems leverages strategic relations between Israel and Germany and underscores Israel's contribution to European security.
The development also has a historical and symbolic dimension: Eighty years after the end of World War II and the annihilation of European Jewry by the Nazi regime, Israeli defense technologies are now helping protect Germany.