A full-scale model of the Air LORA missile was shown for the first time at ILA 2024. Derived from the surface-launched LORA, the air-launched version has been tested from an F-16 and is compatible with other larger aircraft types. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has debuted an air-launched version of its Long-Range Artillery (LORA) surface-to-surface missile system, dubbed Air LORA.
Developed by IAI's MALAM division and shown for the first time during the biennial ILA Berlin Air Show 2024 held from 5 to 9 June, Air LORA takes the Israeli company's already combat-proven surface-launched ‘quasi-ballistic' missile, and gives it the ability to be launched from fighter and other aircraft types.
“We have based Air LORA on the operational surface-to-surface LORA missile, and have already launched it from an F-16,” an IAI official who asked not to be identified told Janes on 6 June.
The official declined to provide details as to where and when the trials of the Air LORA on the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon were conducted, but did say that they had now been completed (though he also would not say if it was yet operational with a customer).
While the trials to date had involved an F-16, the official noted that Air LORA could be launched from other non-traditional aircraft types, such as the Boeing P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft (MMA).
In terms of Air LORA's performance, the official said that much remains classified. He did, however, note that it has an interchange blast fragmentation or deep penetration warhead (previously noted by Janes
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