The Rampage long-range air-to-ground missile is designed for precision strikes against strategic targets from a stand-off distance.
The missile is engineered to minimise risks to aircraft and crew by allowing operations to be conducted well beyond the reach of enemy air defences, a crucial advantage when targeting high-value, stationary or relocatable assets, including command centres and air force bases.
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Unveiled in June 2018, the missile was developed by the Israeli state-owned defence and aerospace companies, Israeli Military Industries Systems (IMI Systems) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Elbit Systems, a military technology company based in Israel, acquired IMI Systems in November 2018 and now supplies essential components and systems for the missile, enhancing its guidance, avionics and electronic warfare capabilities. This synergy ensures the Rampage missile’s high precision and effectiveness across various combat scenarios.
In April 2024, the Indian Air Force inducted the Rampage missiles into its aircraft fleet including the Su-30MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar fighter jets. The missiles were also inducted into the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K fighter jets.
Rampage missile design and features
The Rampage missile measures 4.7m in length with a diameter of 306mm and a weight of 570kg. It has high survivability, operational flexibility and the capacity for salvo strikes on high-value targets. Its all-weather capability makes it adept at responding swiftly to time-critical targets, operating effectively both day and night.
The missile incorporates advanced technologies, including a pre-programmable or in-flight mission profile and a navigation satellite system/inertial navigation system with anti-jam capabilities, warhead, and fire-and-forget features.
It achieved rapid initial operational capabilities with straightforward platform integration, seamlessly integrating with both Western and Eastern combat aircraft, thus offering a versatile solution for modern warfare. It prevents the need for avionic modifications.
The missile is designed to target a range of fixed and time-critical assets, including air force bases, control towers, squadron buildings, munitions storage, bunkers, air defence sites, logistic centres, communication infrastructures and other key infrastructure facilities such as power plants, ports, and oil fields.
Compatibility
Rampage missile is compatible with a diverse array of aircraft and offers various methods of aircraft-to-weapon interface, including standalone, avionic system integration or wireless with a mobile device in the cockpit. Its simple interface allows for the carriage of multiple missiles on each aircraft and is suitable for single-seat aircraft operations.
The Rampage missile can be deployed by medium-sized combat aircraft, each capable of carrying up to four missiles. It facilitates concentrated salvo fire on a single target or engagement of multiple targets simultaneously, while providing adaptability to battlefield requirements and tactical needs.
Warhead
The missile features a versatile warhead capable of general purpose, blast fragmentation or penetration.
It utilises Elbit’s range extension and smart tail (REST) kit, which transforms any air-to-surface warhead into a high-penetration standoff precision munition.
The REST kit is a modular solution comprising a smart tail for navigation and guidance, and upper wings for range extension, providing all-weather “fire and forget” capability to distances up to 120km.
Performance
Rampage missiles can be launched from altitudes between three kilo-feet (Kft) to 40Kft, at velocities of 0.7 to 0.95 Mach, and with a pitch at launch of 0° to 35°.
It impacts with a velocity of 350m/sec to 550m/sec, achieving an accuracy of 10m circular error of probability, and can impact at angles of up to 90°.
