The German Navy has completed two operational firing trials of Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Naval Lora ballistic missile, marking a significant step toward its potential acquisition.
If inducted, the Naval Lora would substantially expand Germany’s naval strike capabilities, offering a maximum range of 430 kilometers (267 miles)—more than twice that of any other naval missile currently in German service.
The missile was launched from an operational German warship equipped with a Naval Lora command trailer and launcher. German media later identified the vessel as the Sachsen-Anhalt, a Type 125 frigate.
The trials were conducted under the Operational Experimentation initiative, which supports the rapid evaluation of new technologies in realistic operational environments. Systems previously tested through the initiative, including IAI’s BlueWhale underwater system, have subsequently entered regular naval service.
Naval Lora
Naval Lora is the maritime variant of IAI’s operational Lora ballistic missile. It provides precision-strike capabilities against land and sea targets through a dedicated launcher configuration designed for sea-to-shore and sea-to-sea engagements.
The system comprises a long-range ballistic missile, launcher, and command-and-control unit. It carries a high-explosive warhead and reportedly achieves a circular error probable of 10 meters (33 feet) across its operational range.
According to IAI, the missile uses Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS)-based navigation. It can reportedly be launched from unprepared positions within minutes, while targets within range can be engaged within 10 minutes of the launch decision.
