German Navy tests Israeli LORA ballistic missile
The German Navy successfully completed a dual firing trial of Israel Aerospace Industries’ Naval LORA ballistic missile, launching the weapon from an operational German vessel and hitting its target with precision in both test scenarios, IAI said.
The trial was conducted as part of the German Navy’s Operational Experimentation program, known as OPEX, a testing initiative the service launched to support its “Marine 2035 and Beyond” plan. IAI said the missile was launched from a configuration comprising a command trailer and a launcher aboard the German vessel, and that the weapon system met all the trial’s objectives in both scenarios.
Separately, Reuters reported that a German frigate tested the Lora system in the North Atlantic, between Ireland and Iceland, in a previously undisclosed operation. According to that report, Germany now plans to move forward with preparations to procure the missile, which has a range of more than 500 kilometers (311 miles).
LORA, short for Long Range Artillery, is a quasi-ballistic missile developed by IAI’s MLM Division that can be launched from land-based mobile launchers or naval vessels. The missile has a publicly listed operational range of 90 to 430 kilometers (56 to 267 miles) and uses a combination of GPS and inertial navigation for guidance, with a circular error probable of 10 meters (33 feet), according to IAI’s own published specifications. It is unclear whether the range Reuters cited reflects an upgraded or export-specific configuration.
The missile has seen combat use by Azerbaijan, which deployed the system during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict against Armenia.
“This is an unprecedented achievement for IAI and the Israeli Ministry of Defense,” said Boaz Levy, IAI’s Chairman. “The successful trial of the LORA missile, launched from a naval vessel and striking its target with exceptional precision, took place overnight in Germany, the country where the world’s first ballistic missile was developed. This trial demonstrates Israel’s technological strength and the unique cooperation between Israel and Germany. It marks another significant achievement alongside the deployment of the Arrow 3 system on German soil, further strengthening Germany’s defense and deterrence capabilities and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries.”
“Israel Aerospace Industries is proud to take part in strengthening the strategic cooperation between the State of Israel and the Government of Germany,” said Guy Bar Lev, IAI’s CEO. “This significant milestone is underscored by the operational live-fire exercise (OPEX) of the LORA system, one of the world’s most advanced and combat-proven ballistic missile systems.”
Germany separately fields IAI’s Arrow 3 missile defense system, which has been operational on German soil as part of the country’s broader air and missile defense buildup.
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The German Navy successfully conducted a dual firing trial of the LORA ballistic missile in the North Atlantic, achieving precision strikes in both scenarios. This trial was part of the Navy's Operational Experimentation program, and Germany is now preparing to procure the missile, which has a range exceeding 500 kilometers. The LORA missile, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, has previously seen combat use.
- German Navy conducted a dual firing trial of the LORA missile.
- The missile hit its target with precision in both test scenarios.
- The trial was part of the German Navy's Operational Experimentation program (OPEX).
- Germany plans to procure the LORA missile, which has a range of over 500 kilometers.
- The LORA missile has been combat-tested by Azerbaijan.