New teeth for the Su-30MKI: Israeli LORA could be India's next big strike weapon

Time of India

10-07-2025

The
Indian Air Force
wants more reach. Despite owning the formidable BrahMos, it's now looking at
Israel Aerospace Industries
' Air-Launched
Long-Range Artillery
(Air LORA) missile. This comes hot on the heels of May's Operation Sindoor, where the Rampage missile got its first taste of combat and proved how vital stand-off range really is.
Air LORA isn't a minor tweak. It's a quasi-ballistic, supersonic missile that flies about 400–430 kilometres and lands within ten metres of its target. That means deep strikes without putting pilots and jets into the teeth of enemy air defences. According to IAI, 'Air LORA addresses these operational challenges with unparalleled efficiency and precision.'
What sets LORA apart
LORA isn't your typical cruise missile. It blends ballistic missile traits with air-launch flexibility. Instead of hugging the ground like BrahMos, it soars on a high, depressed trajectory. That makes it trickier to shoot down.
Its fire-and-forget design frees pilots to turn home the moment it's away. Need to change the target mid-flight? LORA can adjust its course while screaming in at Mach 5. Its navigation uses GPS and an Inertial Navigation System, protected by anti-jamming tech — handy when facing sophisticated electronic warfare.
LORA also skips an active seeker. Fewer moving parts, less cost, same deadly accuracy.
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Quick Specs
Range: 400–430 km
Speed: Supersonic, about Mach 5
Accuracy: Less than 10-metre CEP
Warhead: Blast fragmentation or deep-penetration, up to 570 kg
Weight: 1,600 kg; Length: 5.2 metres
One Su-30MKI can carry up to four of these. That's enough to ruin an enemy's runway, radar and command centre in a single sortie.
Why buy when BrahMos exists?
BrahMos isn't going anywhere. It's a heavyweight supersonic cruise missile flying low and fast, perfect for punching through hardened defences. But BrahMos is big, heavy, pricey and demands special aircraft tweaks.
LORA complements it. Lighter, cheaper, easier to deploy across more jets. Its lofted trajectory makes it a better fit for hitting well-defended, high-value targets deep inside enemy territory. A BrahMos might smash open the gates. LORA finishes the job by knocking out command posts or radar grids before the enemy knows what hit them.
Made in India: The local edge
Back in 2023, IAI and
Bharat Electronics Limited
signed a Memorandum of Understanding to co-produce advanced missile systems. If LORA gets the green light, expect licensed production under
Make in India
. That means jobs, tech transfer, and a chance for India to export sophisticated stand-off missiles one day.
At an estimated $1–5 million per missile, it's not pocket change — but for this reach and accuracy, it's well within reason.
Of course, new toys bring new headaches. Integrating LORA onto Indian fighters will need time, tests and trials. Its resistance to jamming and ability to slip through modern air defences must be proven over India's varied terrain. It also needs to prove its worth against homegrown options like BrahMos or the upcoming Long-Range Land-Attack Cruise Missile.
Still, the logic is clear: LORA fills a gap BrahMos alone can't cover. Different missile, different fight.
The IAF wants to launch first squadrons of LORA by 2026–27. If that happens, India's air strike playbook gets deeper and more flexible overnight. One missile won't change the balance alone — but pair it with BrahMos and India's pilots gain a powerful mix of punch, range and surprise.
Sometimes you want to hit hard. Sometimes you want to reach far. LORA lets you do both — without crossing the line of fire.
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