Just In: Indian Air Force to induct Israeli long-range stand-off missile Rampage for the precision strike role. Once inducted the Israeli ‘Rampage’ will become the first Air-Launched Ballistic Missile (ALBM) in the Indian Air Force inventory.
Elbit’s Long-Range ‘Supersonic Missile Rampage’ (ALBM) which will be inducted into the Indian Airforce is what sources claim.
Key Features of Rampage Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles:
✔The air-to-ground precision missile with over 100+ miles range
✔Autonomous
✔Accuracy: 10m CEP
✔Impact velocity: 350-550m/s
The News was also confirmed by the Indian News Agency ANI on their Twitter account. the Tweet reads “Israel’s Elbit Systems has put on display its Rampage air-to-ground missile at Aero India show in Bengaluru. The missile is going to be inducted into the Indian Air Force”.
Israel’s Elbit Systems has put on display its Rampage air-to-ground missile at Aero India show in Bengaluru. The missile is going to be inducted into the Indian Air Force. pic.twitter.com/EUaUedra5h
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2021
The Rampage is a mutant or EXTRA :
Rampage is an air-launched derivative of IMI Systems’ ground-launched Extended Range Artillery guided artillery rocket, or EXTRA. There appear to be only minimal changes to the weapon’s external design for the air-launched role, namely the addition of a reinforced section of the central body with the attachment lugs.
The Rampage is simply rocket artillery that is modified to be carried and launched from an aircraft. Making the missiles even deadlier with higher range, accuracy, and most importantly the element of surprise. This is what the Israeli Defence Forces has to say about the weapon system.
“Sending four fighter jets carrying four Rampage missiles [each] allows us to strike under conditions we’ve never had before,” Eli Reiter, head of IMI Systems’ Firepower Division, told Ynet. The weapon offers “a quantum leap in performance and extraordinary cost-effectiveness ratio, two factors which are important to many air forces around the world,” he added in the company’s press release.
The air-launched version of EXTRA, initially known as MARS, has been in development since at least 2012. It’s not the first time a ground-launched, ballistic weapon has been adapted for aerial use, either. Recently, Russia revealed an air-launched version of its Iskander quasi-ballistic missile, called Kinzhal, which could indicate the start of a trend of converting established guided rocket artillery and similar systems into lower-cost stand-off weapons for aircraft.
Rampage as surgical strike option for the Indian Air Force:
Hope by now you all understood the purpose and capabilities of this missile. And not to mention the stand-off advantage Rampage provides the Indian Aor Force with. Indian Air Force will be in an advantageous position to target defense infrastructures, enemy airfields, and radio towers just to name a few.
For IAF this could become the safest yet more favorable option to strike Chinese or Pakistani targets while staying far inside the Indian airspace. The range is 90 to 100 miles as depending upon the altitude.
Cost Effective for the Indian Air Force:
Adding stand-off weapons to fourth generation aircraft can significantly add to their utility in general, especially as long-range surface-to-air missile systems continue to proliferate around the world.
Unless a country is willing to go through the time-consuming and immensely expensive process of developing a stealthy fifth-generation platform, more advanced and longer range air-launched weapons offer the only real alternative to continue holding potential enemies at threat from the air, especially when it comes to critical targets deeper within their territory.
It could also present a valuable tool for attacking air defense nodes to pave the way for additional follow-on strikes.
Source: IAI (Israel), The Drive, Social Media Sources, ANI
