India Eyes LORA and Ice Breaker Missiles to Expand Strategic Arsenal
India has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Israel to deepen defence cooperation, with a particular focus on acquiring and locally producing the Long Range Artillery (LORA) ballistic missile system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). The agreement was formalized between Indian Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Israeli Defence Director General Amir Baram, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.
India’s interest in LORA stems from operational lessons learned with the Rampage missile, which has been used in encounters with Pakistan. While Rampage offers high accuracy and a range of about 250 kilometres, its shorter reach leaves aircraft vulnerable to advanced air-defence systems. LORA, by contrast, extends strike capability to approximately 400 kilometres, enabling India to target enemy positions while keeping its aircraft outside hostile defence envelopes. The missile is supersonic, weighs 1,600 kilograms, and features satellite navigation resistant to disruption. Its “fire and forget” design allows it to hit targets without further guidance after launch, and it can carry different warheads for varied missions.
India, already the largest buyer of Israeli defence exports—accounting for 34% between 2020 and 2024—continues to expand its arsenal with Israeli technology. Reports also suggest India is exploring the Ice Breaker cruise missile, which has a 300-kilometre range and advanced infrared navigation supported by AI, making it effective against both land and sea targets even in electronic warfare-heavy environments. Together, these acquisitions highlight India’s push to modernize its missile capabilities and strengthen deterrence in the region.
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