Ship Hunting in the Mediterranean: Israel Tests New LORA Tactical Ballistic Missile System

State owned weapons and defence company Israel Aerospace Industries announced on June 2nd the successful test of a new short ranged tactical ballistic missile system, which will be the first of its kind in the country’s arsenal. The missile is part of the LORA (Long Range Artillery Weapon System) complex under development in the country, and will provide the Israeli Defence Force with its first ground and ship based tactical ballistic platforms. Israel Aerospace Industries reported that two firing trials were carried out in open sea, and the missile is reportedly being optimised to be able to strike enemy warships which could provide Israeli forces with an asymmetric asset for coastal defence. The missile struck its target 400km away during testing, although it remains uncertain whether its range will be longer when it enters active service. The Israeli Navy is the smallest major arm of the country’s armed forces and deploys a relatively small fleet, meaning a ground based anti ship ballistic missile system could be a highly prized asset. The LORA system is prized for its ability to be stored in containers for over half a decade without maintenance, and can be hidden among civilian shipping containers from which it its outwardly indistinguishable. The missile can thus provide a formidable offensive capability to the country’s merchant shipping fleet if needed, partly compensating for the small size and relatively limited firepower of the navy.