To strengthen the Indian Air Force's ability to strike targets from a long distance without entering enemy airspace, India is taking various initiatives.
The IAF is focusing on two key projects, which include making the powerful Israeli Rampage missile in India and developing a new air-launched version of the indigenous Pinaka-IV rocket.
These initiatives taken by IAF aim to reduce dependence on foreign weapons and support the "Atma Nirbhar Bharat" mission, thereby boosting
Indigenous Edge: New Heights for Pinaka Firepower
To significantly boost its long-range strike capabilities, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has taken two major initiatives: the local production of the Israeli Rampage missile and the development of an air-launched version of the indigenous Pinaka-IV rocket system.
This initiative not only aims to enhance combat preparedness but also promotes self-reliance under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.
Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, the Rampage missile is a supersonic, air-to-ground weapon with a range of about 250 km and a 150 kg high-explosive warhead.
The IAF used it recently to strike key Pakistani air bases during tensions that followed the terrorist attack on Pahalgam, reflecting its characteristics like high precision and effectiveness.
India has decided to produce the Rampage locally under a licensing agreement with Israel as the country is highly impressed by its performance. Likely involving Bharat Dynamics Limited or a private Indian defence firm, this move will reduce import dependency on foreign countries, lower the expenditure, and speed up maintenance and delivery timelines, which could be met on time. Indigenous production is expected to begin by mid-2026. DRDOis also working simultaneously with the IAF to develop an air-launched version of the Pinaka-IV, the next-generation version of India's indigenous multi-barrel rocket launcher system. The air-launched variant is being modified for deployment from IAF fighter jets such as the Su-30 MKI, Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Tejas, while the ground-launched Pinaka-IV is designed for a range of 250–300 km. Including advanced seekers to enable high-precision strikes from high altitudes against hardened or moving targets, this version will need flight stability modifications and upgraded guidance systems. The IAF sees great potential in the air-launched Pinaka-IV as its characteristics include low cost, and it is a homegrown alternative to imported missiles like the Rampage. The new variant would allow the IAF to engage deep targets while staying out of enemy air defence range with its extended range and compatibility with multiple fighter platforms. With the Army pushing for faster development of the ground-based Pinaka Guided Mk-III, this project also supports the broader modernization efforts of India's armed forces. Although the development of the air-launched Pinaka-IV goes through technical challenges, which include reducing missile size while incorporating innovative guidance systems and also DRDO's experience with missile programs like Rudram provides a solid foundation, India is still hell-bent on empowering its defence system. Indian Air Force's main focus is on imported systems like Rampage and Pinaka-IV, India's promising indigenous technology, which will prove to be successful and will reflect a balanced strategy to ensure both immediate capability and long-term independence from imports.
