Indian Air Force, Navy fighter aircraft fleet gets Rampage missile boost

In a massive boost to the strike capability of its combat aircraft fleet, the Indian Air Force has inducted Rampage long-range air-to-ground supersonic missiles, which can hit targets up to a range of about 250 kilometres.

The missile, known as the High-Speed ​​Low Drag-Mark 2 missile in the Indian Air Force, was reportedly used extensively by the Israeli Air Force during recent attacks on Iranian targets.

Defense sources told ANI that the Indian Air Force has inducted the Rampage into its Russian-origin aircraft fleet along with Jaguar fighter jets, including Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 fighters.

He said the Indian Navy has also included the missile in its fleet for MiG-29K naval fighter aircraft.

Sources said the stand-off weapon will give Indian fighter pilots the option to attack and shoot down targets such as communication centers or radar stations.

The purchase was part of emergency powers granted by the Defense Ministry to equip the armed forces with critical weapons and equipment after the standoff with China began in 2020.

The range of these missiles is more than the Spice-2000 used in the Balakot air strikes in 2019.

The Indian Air Force has commissioned a number of weapon systems, including long-range systems from both shipborne and Indian vendors.

The Indian Air Force recently test-fired the ROCKS or Crystal Maze-2 missile in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands area.

In tests conducted about a fortnight ago, the air-launched ballistic missile successfully hit its target.

The induction of the Rampage and integration with the Russian Su-30 has given a major boost to the Russian aircraft fleet which can now fire multiple long-range air-to-ground missiles, including BrahMos supersonic missiles with a range of over 400 km. Is.

The Indian Air Force is now also considering whether the Rampage can be produced and inducted in large numbers under the Make in India programme.