A German warship has fired an Israeli-made LORA ballistic missile during a live test in the North Atlantic, with the German Navy saying the launch demonstrated a strike capability with a potential range beyond anything it had previously operated.
German media reports, citing a German Navy spokesman, said two German frigates had deployed to waters between Ireland and Iceland for the test on Tuesday night. Images from the exercise show a containerised launcher positioned on the deck of a German vessel.
The messaging here could hardly be clearer. By disclosing a test that had deliberately been kept secret, NATO was sending a direct signal to Moscow: European forces are developing longer-range strike options, and not every capability will be visible before it is ready.
NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum said the test had been kept secret until after it was completed and involved a German frigate firing the missile in the North Atlantic.
The command stated: “Kept secret. Now revealed. The German Navy just tested the Israeli LORA ballistic missile from a German frigate in the North Atlantic — quietly, deliberately and with a range of 500+ km.”
Kept secret. Now revealed. 🚀🇩🇪
The German Navy just tested the Israeli 🇮🇱 LORA ballistic missile from a German frigate in the North Atlantic — quietly, deliberately and with a range of 500+ km.
NATO 3.0 looks like this:
Europe is taking more responsibility, building serious… pic.twitter.com/K8x2JE61Gs— NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum – JFCBS (@NATOJFCBS) September 2, 2026
It added: “NATO 3.0 looks like this: Europe is taking more responsibility, building serious capabilities and keeping a few cards close to the chest. Deterrence just got a little more interesting.”
Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Inspector of the German Navy, said: “With the successful launch of a ballistic missile last night in the North Atlantic, we made naval history. I am extremely satisfied with this achievement.”
Kaack added that the system “can be successfully deployed from our units, and the potential range exceeds anything we have known before.”
In his original statement, the German Navy chief said the trial opened a new chapter for maritime deterrence and readiness, stating that the system could be operated successfully from German units and that its possible reach exceeded previous German naval capabilities.
The test was conducted with Israel Aerospace Industries’ LORA, or Long-Range Artillery Weapon System. According to IAI, the missile has a range of around 400 kilometres and an accuracy of within 10 metres, while NATO’s public account of the German test referred to a range of more than 500 kilometres.
Israel Aerospace Industries said the missile was launched from an operational German vessel equipped with a command trailer and launcher. According to the company, the missile followed its planned trajectory, navigated to the target and successfully struck it, with both the weapon system and missile meeting the objectives of the trial.
Boaz Levy, Chairman of IAI, said: “This is an unprecedented achievement for IAI and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. The successful trial of the LORA missile, launched from a naval vessel and striking its target with exceptional precision, took place overnight in Germany – the country where the world’s first ballistic missile was developed.”
He added: “This trial demonstrates Israel’s technological strength and the unique cooperation between Israel and Germany. It marks another significant achievement alongside the deployment of the Arrow 3 system on German soil, further strengthening Germany’s defense and deterrence capabilities and deepening the strategic partnership between our two countries.”
IAI chief executive Guy Bar Lev said: “Israel Aerospace Industries is proud to take part in strengthening the strategic cooperation between the State of Israel and the Government of Germany. This significant milestone is underscored by the operational live-fire exercise (OPEX) of the LORA system, one of the world’s most advanced and combat-proven ballistic missile systems.”
The German Navy is using its OPEX initiative to trial technologies and operational concepts as part of its Marine 2035 and Beyond programme. The process is intended to allow new systems to be tested rapidly under conditions intended to resemble operational use as closely as possible.
The North Atlantic launch comes as Germany expands its investment in long-range strike and air and missile defence. The country has also begun fielding the Israeli-developed Arrow 3 ballistic missile defence system as part of its wider effort to strengthen national and NATO defensive capabilities.
Umm the RN needs something like this to supplement its sub launched tomahawks and storm shadows..
Germany has the right idea, what can you bring to the table fast that can hurt Russia.. because pain is the only deterrent.
I think there are a couple of gaps in our arsenal, but in particular, the RAF and RN lack something that can hit land targets hard and fast.
An air-launched ballistic missile, perhaps? A copy of the Russian Killjoy? It’d tank the range of the Typhoon, though.
At the upper end of the range, there’s Dark Eagle. Some early T83 concepts had considerations for replacing some Mk41 cells with space for 12 Dark Eagle Missiles.
More realistically, they’d be procured in very small numbers (a stock of 50 or so) in the mid-2030s for the new submarines. The Russians are probably going to try and whack Portsmouth, Devonport and Faslane with submarine-launched missiles in any conflict. It makes sense to be able to threaten Murmansk in the same way.
Way to pricey for everyday use, though.
“An air-launched ballistic missile, perhaps? A copy of the Russian Killjoy? It’d tank the range of the Typhoon, though.”
Israelis use their own ALBM’s in F16 and F15, they operated against Iran which is not close range.
If GCAP can carry Stratus internally, which will weigh around the same as the 1300kg Storm Shadow, then I could see a use for having a pair of absolutely huge external pylons for even larger weapons.
The Israeli F15s can carry at least the 1900kg, 1000km Blue Sparrow missile/target and might (ambiguous, possibly only C130 launch) be able to take the 3130kg, 2000km Silver Sparrow too.
Having 3000kg pylons might well be possible given the chonky delta wing and would allow DPS to include a single stage air-launch missile and a longer-legged two stage surface launch one as well. Would be too big for mk41 and too small for unitary VPM use (4- or 3-pack?) but otherwise a useful long range system from land and air.
Might also reduce dependence on AAR if plumbed for fuel, though they’d be stupidly draggy. I wonder if Falklands air bridge without a trail would be possible?
On second thoughts, perhaps just in-weapons bay tanks for less drag?
I think we should develop our own Dark Eagle equivalent with Germany. We could have a naval version just like PSM which could also be launched from land. They can be tripled packed into the tubes on Common Missile Compartment on the Dreadnaught class or put on the SSN A giving us a handy Trident II replacement should we find ourselves cut off from US supplies in future. The missiles can easily come with different warheads including triple MIRV’s and or a Hypersonic glide vehicles and each can come with a nuclear option. This is exactly what China has with the DF26.
Such a weapon solves so many UK and Germany strategic issues. Hopefully such a weapon is already under development.
It could effectively give us a nuclear triad in one go.
I like this flexibility. i wonder if sometimes will not be good to have just a weapons carrier ship with maybe a bridge and essential sensors and nothing else, Stanflex to the ultimate consequence, a large free level platform like an aircraft carrier flight deck, where varied weapons can be deployed by truck/ crane and attached to the platform by operational needs.
The Israelis congratulating Germany on being the first to develop a ballistic missile is not something I was expecting, somehow.
If only the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen had this capability in 1941
Now everyone had a good giggle at the dip about a deck launched long range missile for the carriers.. Germany now has a deck launched ballistic missile..that’s in a shipping container.. how many shipping container could you stash on a Uk carrier and still keep up flying opps for sea control CAPS.