Israel and Greece Advance Talks on Joint Production of LORA Ballistic Missiles
Israel and Greece are advancing talks on joint production of IAI's LORA ballistic missiles. The potential 500-kilometer range agreement follows a major procurement wave including PULS artillery and the Shield of Achilles air defense system.
Negotiations between Israel and Greece regarding the acquisition of LORA ballistic missiles from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) are progressing. According to the Greek defense website Nemesis HD, the focus of the talks has shifted toward joint production on Greek soil.
Last month, the German Navy successfully completed a dual operational test of the LORA naval missile system. During the test, an operational vessel equipped with a command cabin and launcher fired a missile in two separate scenarios, followed by precise navigation and a direct hit on the target.
With foreign reports indicating that the range of LORA missiles has reached approximately 500 kilometers or more—surpassing IAI's initial commitment of about 430 kilometers—Athens has grown increasingly interested in the Israeli system. A 500-kilometer range could significantly bolster Greece's deterrence equation vis-à-vis Turkey.
A Significant Streak of Defense Procurements
In recent months, Greece has engaged in a substantial wave of military acquisitions from Israel. This began in April with a deal valued at approximately 2.3 billion shekels (650 million euros) for the sale of PULS artillery systems to the Hellenic Army. PULS is a versatile multi-role weapon system capable of launching rockets and missiles at various ranges, chosen by Greece for its ability to strike targets up to 300 kilometers away.
This was followed in August by the signing of the massive "Shield of Achilles" agreement, worth roughly 3.1 billion euros (around 3.6 billion dollars), for the sale of David's Sling, Barak MX, and Spyder air defense systems.
Against this backdrop, talks concerning LORA continued. According to Nemesis HD, when Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz visited Athens in January, LORA was a primary topic of discussion. Israel has expressed readiness to collaborate on production, with at least 25 percent of the work allocated to Greek companies, mirroring the operational model used in the "Shield of Achilles."
A senior Greek official told the local website that in September, Athens concluded that LORA is its preferred option for strengthening the ballistic missile capabilities of its ground forces. Joint production could also benefit Israel, allowing it to diversify and expand manufacturing sources abroad amid ongoing military campaigns.
Morocco and India Also Show Interest
The LORA is a ballistic missile measuring approximately 5.2 meters in length with a launch weight of about 1.6 tons. Its range spans from 90 kilometers to over 500 kilometers according to foreign reports, featuring a high precision accuracy of about ten meters. It can carry various warheads weighing up to 600 kilograms, and a ground platform can transport four missiles per launcher. Guided by satellite and inertial navigation until the terminal phase where a seeker head takes over, the missile has proven itself on battlefields, notably used extensively by Azerbaijan against Armenia during the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Greece is not the only nation eyeing the LORA system. The defense portal ZM reported last month that Morocco is also interested in acquiring the IAI-produced ballistic missiles as part of its ongoing procurement campaign from Israel, providing Moroccan forces with lethal capabilities beyond the 300-kilometer range of their HIMARS launchers.
Furthermore, Indian interest highlights the missile's global appeal. According to IDRW, an Indian Ministry of Defense delegation visited Israel secretly last year to negotiate agreements enabling New Delhi to manufacture Air LORA ballistic missiles and Rafael's Ice Breaker cruise missiles domestically.
