System Lora: German navy tests long-range missile in North Atlantic

The German navy says it has written “naval history” with the successful nighttime launch of a ballistic missile in the North Atlantic. A frigate fired Israel’s Lora system in a previously concealed test, and the navy now wants to advance plans to acquire the weapon.

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With the successful firing of a ballistic missile last night in the North Atlantic, we have written naval history.

Two German frigates moved into waters between Ireland and Iceland for the trial. Preparations remained largely secret, although maritime and air traffic received warnings 45 days before the launch. A navy spokesman confirmed that the test had succeeded.

Navy chief Jan Christian Kaack called the result a major achievement. “With the successful firing of a ballistic missile last night in the North Atlantic, we have written naval history,” he told the German Press Agency. Kaack said he was “highly satisfied” and that the system could be successfully used from German ships. Its potential range, he added, “exceeds everything we have known so far.”

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Highly satisfied with this performance.

Lora, short for Long Range Attack, is classified by arms-control categories as a short-range ballistic missile. Israel develops and produces it, and the missile sits in a launch container that allows relatively rapid deployment from ships. Its possible purchase forms part of Germany’s post-Ukraine-war defense programs, which aim to deter Russia amid allied concern about Russian aggression.

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The system can be successfully used from German ships and its potential range exceeds everything we have known so far.

The system would give Germany a second quickly deployable weapon for striking distant land targets, alongside the Taurus cruise missile. Taurus launches from Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft and flies close to the ground, following terrain contours. Lora instead rises steeply, follows a ballistic trajectory and then descends rapidly toward its target. Israel Aerospace Industries markets it as a tactical precision-strike missile.

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For the protection of Germany and our allies, this trial opens a new chapter in deterrence and defense readiness at sea.