Page 93 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

On the Rampage
The Israeli developers say that the Rampage
features optimal penetration capability for
missions targeting protected areas. Its degree
of precision reportedly prevents collateral
damage while offering a very low mission
cost compared with existing solutions. The The first official image of the Rampage

targets that best suit the capabilities of the to be released shows this test launch
new weapon include communication and from an F-16I, but the weapon is
command centres, air bases, maintenance apparently primarily intended to arm the
centres, infrastructure and valuable field targets F-35I Adir. The missile was reportedly

used for the first time to strike Iranian
protected by anti-aircraft systems. The Rampage targets in Masyaf, western Syria, on
can operate in any weather conditions, day April 13, hitting a missile factory and
and night. The total weight of the missile is weapons warehouses. All photos via
Arie Egozi unless stated
1,257lb (570kg) and it is 15.4ft (4.7m) long.
According to foreign sources, many of the have been a focus of continued IAF attacks in are in any doubt as to their origin.
IAF’s attacks on targets in Syria – and more recent months. With such targets frequently in While details of the units, aircraft and
recently in Iraq, attributed to Israel by the same very close proximity to Russian forces, these weapons that have performed each of these
sources – were made from standoff ranges. In heavy air raids need to be performed without attacks remain scarce, one fact is clear: the
Syria, a significant proportion of these raids bringing harm to a single Russian soldier. IAF is equipped with a variety of weapon
were performed when the Israeli fighter aircraft Mission impossible? It might sound like it, but systems that are intended to offer maximum
were flying over Lebanon There are two main the IAF has apparently succeeded in this aim flexibility, even under the harshest conditions,
unclassified standoff weapon systems currently so far by making use of ‘smart’ glide bombs. from poor weather to sophisticated air
capable of performing such precision strikes: While the missions have been accomplished defence systems and countermeasures.
Rampage and SPICE. In many cases in Syria, successfully, it can be assumed that tension One weapon system - or rather family of
the targets were very close to Russian forces – within the air force’s central command post weapons – that has been confirmed to be
in the country to assist the Syrian government during the attacks remained very high.
– demanding an additional degree of accuracy. In 2018 alone, Israel confirmed that the IAF
Wars often create unexpected and complex attacked more than 200 Iranian targets in
situations. A perfect example are the facilities Syria. Similar missions have continued
operated by Iran in Syria for the upgrade of in recent weeks, and while Israel
battlefield rockets on their way to join Hezbollah has not taken responsibility
insurgents in Lebanon. These workshops so far, few observers

A head-on view of a pair of Israeli Air Force F-16I Sufas armed with SPICE 1000 weapons. The jet in the
background, Sufa 470, wears the markings of 253 ‘Negev’ Squadron based at Ramon, a unit that saw
service in the Second Lebanon War in July 2006, carrying out “hundreds of successful bombings with
various kinds of weaponry.” Yissachar Ruas

www.Key.Aero #381 December 2019 // 91

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