A successful naval launch signals new capability, but procurement has not yet been finalised.
BERLIN, GERMANY
The German Navy has successfully tested Israel Aerospace Industries’ LORA ballistic missile from an operational vessel in the North Atlantic. Two firing scenarios reportedly met their technical objectives, demonstrating that the containerised weapon could be integrated into German naval operations and strike targets with precision.
LORA, an acronym for Long-Range Attack, is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that can be deployed from land or maritime platforms. Depending on the configuration and flight profile, published range estimates extend from approximately 400 to 500 kilometres. Its manufacturer claims an accuracy radius of about 10 metres and says the system can be launched within minutes.
Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack described the test as a historic development for the German Navy because the missile’s potential range surpasses that of its existing ship-launched weapons. Germany currently possesses air-launched Taurus cruise missiles but does not operate an equivalent ballistic strike capability. Unlike cruise missiles, which fly through the atmosphere using sustained propulsion, ballistic missiles climb rapidly before descending toward their targets at high speed.
Berlin is now studying a possible purchase, but the successful trial does not constitute a completed procurement decision. Any acquisition would require technical evaluation, financing and political approval. Germany is simultaneously modernising the Taurus system, developing multinational European missiles and considering additional long-range capabilities as part of its response to Russia’s war against Ukraine and hostile activity across Europe.
The potential purchase would deepen Germany’s defence relationship with Israel. Berlin already operates the Israeli-developed Arrow 3 system, designed to intercept ballistic missiles at very high altitude. Arrow provides defensive protection, while LORA would give Germany an offensive precision-strike option from the sea. Together, these systems reflect a broader transformation in German security policy, but they also raise questions about strategic dependence on non-European suppliers, escalation risks and the conditions governing the use of long-range weapons.
La verdad es estructura, no ruido. / Truth is structure, not noise.