Military Knowledge: Rampage Missile and EXTRA Rocket; Israel’s Most Widely Used Weapons Against Adversaries!
Rampage is a supersonic standoff air-launched missile based on the EXTRA artillery rocket. It is designed to destroy high-value targets such as radar installations, communications centers, infrastructure facilities, and airfields, enabling the aircraft to launch from beyond the engagement range of defense systems.
An overview of the development and production history of the Rampage missile:
The Rampage missile emerged from a collaboration between Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). This partnership traces its origins to the development of the EXTRA series rockets at IMI, from which an air-launched version was created in collaboration with IAI. Initially named MARS (Multi-purpose, Air-launched Rocket System), this version was later marketed as Rampage and is currently produced by the military company Elbit Systems.
The EXTRA (Extended Range Artillery) is a type of artillery rocket developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) and has been used by the Israeli army, the Baku government, Vietnam, and Kazakhstan since 2013.
The EXTRA rocket boasts a maximum range of 150 km, equipped with a 120 kg warhead, and maintains an accuracy of 10 meters at its maximum range.
Its design features a solid-fuel propellant, stabilizing wings at the rear of the fuselage, and guide fins near the nose. The guidance and control system enhances the missile’s accuracy by four times that of unguided rockets, adjusting the ballistic trajectory to counteract wind drift and other meteorological effects.
The warhead of this guided rocket is also modular, suitable for carrying different types of submunitions or a single warhead. For example, the EXTRA can carry up to 400 bomblets, anti-runaway munitions or penetrating warheads.
The Extra rocket is commonly used in the PULS rocket launcher system, formerly known as Lynx. The launcher was originally developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) and was called Lynx. When IMI was sold to Elbit Systems, the launcher was upgraded and renamed PULS, which stands for Precise & Universal Launching System.
The PULS system can carry two separate launch pods, each of which can host up to 18 Accular-122 rocket pods with a range of 36 km, 10 Accular-160 rocket pods with a range of 40 km, 4 EXTRA guided rocket pods with a range of 150 km, or two Predator Hawk tactical ballistic missiles.
Due to the remarkable success of the EXTRA rocket, the development of its air-launched version was also commissioned.
Rampage missile:
The Rampage long-range air-to-surface missile is engineered for precision strikes against strategic targets from a safe distance. It minimizes risks to the aircraft and crew, enabling operations beyond the range of enemy air defenses. This offers a significant advantage when targeting high-value fixed or mobile assets, including command centers and air force bases.
Officially unveiled in June 2018, the Rampage missile was initially developed by Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). On November 25, 2018, Elbit Systems acquired IMI and rebranded it as Elbit Systems Land. Today, Elbit Industries produces the missile.
Measuring 4.7 meters in length, 306 millimeters in diameter, and weighing 580 kilograms, the Rampage missile boasts excellent operational flexibility. It is compatible with a wide range of Eastern and Western fighter aircraft, eliminating the need for avionics changes. Rampage can be adapted to fighter jets through various methods, such as reprogramming the weapon system or deploying a separate avionics kit in the cockpit.
The missile’s capability to operate in all weather conditions makes it a reliable option for quick-response attacks, functioning effectively both day and night.
Additional features of this weapon include pre-programmed or in-flight mission execution, allowing target coordinates to be directly provided to the missile’s flight computer before firing.
Guidance for the Rampage missile relies on a combination of satellite navigation and internal inertial navigation, with anti-jamming and fire-and-forget capabilities.
The Rampage missile can be deployed by single-engine or so-called small fighter aircraft, each capable of carrying up to four missiles. The missile’s ease of use allows it to engage a single target or multiple targets simultaneously.
Rampage missiles can be launched from altitudes of 3,000 to 4,000 feet, at speeds of Mach 0.7 to 0.95, and at angles of 0 to 35 degrees. Depending on the launch type, the missile hits the target at speeds of 350 to 550 meters per second (Mach 1.6), with an accuracy of less than 10 meters, and at a maximum angle of 90 degrees.
The maximum range of this missile is stated in various sources to be up to 250 kilometers.
It should be added that this missile is capable of using a diverse range of warheads, including multipurpose, bunker-busting, and fragmentation warheads.
Operational history:
The Israeli regime air force uses the Rampage missile extensively. The weapon’s operational history includes the assassination of Mustafa Ahmed Shahdi, deputy commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan forces, and Israeli airstrikes in Yemen.
On December 26, 2024, the Israeli Air Force targeted several locations in Yemen, including Sana’a International Airport, the Haziz power plants in Sana’a and Ras Qanateb in northern Hodeidah, and military infrastructure in the ports of Hudaydah, Al-Salif, and Ras Qanateb on the west coast of Hudaydah. The operations were primarily carried out by F-15D Eagle, F-16I fighter jets, and KC-707 tankers. The F-16I fighter jets involved in these operations were armed with two Rampage air-launched missiles.
It is likely that Israeli warplanes used Rampage air-launched missiles in the October 26 attacks against Iran, targeting the Qadir defense installations and radar site in Ahvaz, the Ilam radar site, and the Abadan refinery. The proximity of these targets, all located less than 200 kilometers from the southwestern border with Iraq, supports this possibility.
Users of Rampage rocket:
Israel: The Israeli Air Force is the first user of the Rampage missile. This weapon is typically seen in combination with F-16 fighters. Retired Kfir fighters can also be equipped with this missile. Sri Lanka, Ecuador, and Colombia still have this fighter jet in service and are considered potential customers of the Rampage missile.
India: The Indian Air Force selected the Rampage missile for service in 2024. The force’s fleet includes Sukhoi-30 and MiG-29 fighters. The Indian Navy’s MiG-29 fighters also use this missile.
Greece: The Hellenic Air Force is considering introducing the Rampage missile for its F-15 fighters.
Rampage missile specifications:
Type: Standoff air-to-surface missile
Manufacturer: Israeli regime
Unveiled: 2018
Length: 4.7 meters
Diameter: 306 mm
Range: up to 250 km
Speed: 1.6 Mach
Accuracy: 10 meters CEP
Weight: 580 kg
Warhead: Multipurpose
Warhead weight: 150 kg
Flight altitude: 12,190 meters
Guidance: GPS/INS – IR
More images of Rampage missile:
Posters of Rampage missiles in Farsi, Russian and Arabic:
Source:
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