Page 92 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

Aircraft weapons
The long systems and the local defence industry

T
he Israeli Air Force (IAF) has a
requirement for more advanced
air-launched standoff weapon
is working hard to supply them.
arm of operational problem of attacking high-
The IAF’s demand stems from the
value targets in areas protected by a
variety of surface-to-air missiles (SAMs).
The need for such weapons to carry
heavy payloads of explosives is not
new, but with more than 200 air strikes
the Israeli
undertaken by the IAF in Syria last year
and yet more this year, the operational
need has reached a higher priority level.
According to foreign sources, the IAF
has performed many of these air strikes in
Syria while flying within Lebanese airspace.
Lebanon has no air defence systems
Air Force that at least some of the recent IAF air
that can threaten the IAF’s aircraft.
Meanwhile, Russian media outlets claim
strikes in Syria involved use of the new
Israeli Rampage air-to-ground missile.
The Rampage was developed jointly by
Israel Military Industries Systems (IMI) –

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). According
to the companies, the Rampage’s warhead,
While the Israeli Air Force is well equipped with ‘smart’ standoff weapon recently acquired by Elbit Systems – and
rocket motor and advanced navigation
systems, threats developing close to the country’s borders and further suite allow execution of strike missions
afield require additional, even more capable munitions. Arie Egozi against high-value, well-protected targets
examines those currently in production. with a high degree of precision.

90 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

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