The Arrival of Advanced American Multi Barrel Rockets Launchers such as the “HIMARS” in the Ukrainian battlefield helped the Ukrainian Armed Forces to gain several advantages over the Russian Army. Now Ukrainian Army wants a longer-range precision-guided strike weapon system in the form of American-made ATACMS tactical ballistic missile, the U.S. and Ukrainian governments are discussing the possibility of an ATACMS acquisition. Although there are few chances that USA will agree to transfer these long range highly-capable weapons to Ukraine. As it will highly escalate this war and also increase the tensions between the USA and the Russian Federation. The ATACMS has the striking range of 190 mi (300 km), which means Ukrainian Army can easily use these missiles to strike deep inside Russian Territory. Now Ukraine wants Israel to supply LORA Ballistic Missiles to them, a theater quasi ballistic missile much more capable than the American ATACMS, the LORA has the striking range of 400km, it travels at hypersonic speed. Israel-made LORA ballistic missiles will help strengthen the Ukrainian Army if Tel Aviv agrees to transfer.
While still having difficulty with the supply of “ATACMS”, Ukraine has now asked Israel to supply LORA Ballistic Missiles to them as an alternative option for the “ATACMS”. LORA missiles are Superpowerful ballistic missiles produced by Israel.
According to the assessment of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Israeli-made LORA missiles possesses many excellent tactical and technical features, even surpassing US-made weapons, so Ukrainian Government is expecting Israel to accept their request, and sell this weapon to Ukraine in the future.
It has a range of 400 kilometres (250 mi) and a CEP of 10 metres (33 ft) when using a combination of GPS and TV for terminal guidance. It can be ship-launched from inside of a standard Intermodal container as well as land-launched.
LORA was used in the final days of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, being used to target a vital bridge in the Lachin corridor linking Armenia to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. It was initially thought to have destroyed the bridge, but later evidence suggested it had only inflicted limited damage.
According to reports by Missile Threat, in 2005, the LORA was the result of a collaboration between Israel Aerospace Industries, MLM Division, and IMI. The missile was first publicly shown in 2006 at the Eurosatory exposition and then officially displayed in 2007 and 2011 at the Paris Air Show.
According to Israel Aerospace Industries, the missile’s manufacturer, the LORA has a diameter of 0.624 m and a length of 5.2 m, with a launch weight of approximately 1,600 kg. It can carry a payload of up to 600 kg, and can deploy a single high explosive (HE) warhead or submunitions.
It uses Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System and TV for terminal guidance, with possible in-flight maneuvering capability.
The missiles are carried in quadruple packs by ships, or by 6 x 6 vehicles. When kept inside hermetically sealed containers, the missiles can have a shelf life of 7 years.
However, the most difficult problem for Ukraine today is, same like America, Israel also does not want to provide long-range precision-guided strike weapon systems to Ukraine, for fearing of escalation of tensions with the Russian Federation.
At present, Israel is expected to deliver Electronic Warfare Equipments to Ukraine to help counter the threat posed by the Iranian-supplied Russian-used Loitering Munitions.