The results of Israel's use of air-launched ballistic missiles during the recent strikes on Iran will be of interest to potential buyers. Reuters expected the proposal to generate a lot of interest given that most major countries favor cruise missiles and glider bombs over the use of such weapons.
The Israel Defense Forces said it carried out three waves of strikes on Iranian missile factories and air defenses on October 26. Military observers said satellite imagery showed the targets included buildings previously used for Iran's nuclear program.
High-speed, high-precision air-launched ballistic missiles, such as Rampage, made by Israel Aerospace Industries, have several advantages, the main one being the speed of penetration of defenses, the authors of the publication note, citing British and American experts.
Cruise missiles provide an easier target for tightly integrated air defenses than ballistic missiles. However, ballistic missiles are launched from already known positions, and such missiles cannot change their course during flight.
“A U.S. Air Force official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that air-launched ballistic missiles are not currently used in U.S. military operations.
Ground-launched ballistic missiles, which Iran used twice to attack Israel this year and which Ukraine and Russia have used since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, are common in many countries' arsenals. The same applies to cruise missiles.
