– Israel used a long-range, supersonic “Rampage” air-to-surface missile in a strike on Iran
– The missile was designed by Israel Aerospace Industries for precision strikes on various targets
– The strike was reportedly intended to show Iran that Israel could evade its air defense systems undetected and was considered an economical alternative to other missiles
Israel reportedly used a long-range, supersonic missile in a strike on a military base near Isfahan, Iran, with US officials confirming the attack. Although Israel has not officially confirmed the reports, Iran downplayed the incident, referring to the small drones used in the attack as “toys.” The missile used in the strike, believed to be the “Rampage” air-to-surface missile, was designed by Israel Aerospace Industries for precision strikes against various targets.
The Rampage missile, with a weight of 1,250 pounds and the ability to fly at 1,250 mph, is designed for long-range strikes using GPS/INS guidance navigation and anti-jamming capabilities. It can be deployed from aircraft or as a stand-alone system, with a range of up to 190 miles and equipped with a blast fragmentation or general-purpose warhead. Western officials noted that the Israeli strike on Iran aimed to demonstrate the ability to evade Iranian air defense systems undetected, following an attack on Israel by Iran the previous week.
Possessing the Rampage missile would provide the UK’s Royal Air Force with an economical alternative compared to other costly missiles, such as the Storm Shadow cruise missile. The Rampage is reported to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, significantly less than the $3 million price tag of each Storm Shadow missile. This attack highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran, with Israel maintaining its military capabilities by utilizing advanced weaponry like the Rampage missile.