Tel Aviv: A long “shopping list” of Israeli made weapon systems was submitted last week to an Israeli high ranking delegation that visited Azerbaijan. The visit while the tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia resulted in a new round of fighting, is a another proof that the defence ties between Israel and Azerbaijan have been enhanced to a new peak.

After beginning what it refers to as “anti-terror” operations, Azerbaijan has announced that its military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh are continuing. Azerbaijani defence ministry announced in a statement on September 20 that military hardware used by the Armenian armed forces, including artillery and anti-aircraft missile batteries, had been “neutralised.”

Sources said that in the current round of fighting the Azeris launched a “large” number of the Israeli made LORA long range ground – ground missile.

Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), LORA is a sea-to-ground and ground-to-ground system which comprises a long-range ballistic missile, a unique launcher, a command and control system, and a ground/marine support system. The LORA system provides ballistic assault capabilities for multiple ranges with a precision level of 10 meters CEP. Max range is 430 km. The LORA is 5.2 meters long and has a diameter of 60 cm. It is armed with different types of warheads with an average weight of 450 kgs.

The LORA enables to attack targets at sea and on the ground. The installation of the launcher on a navy vessel according to IAI is simple. IAI is working on the development of new versions that will be capable of hitting target in ranges greater than this of the LORA and shorter.

The sources added that all the new versions are designed like the LORA to enable launch from the ground and navy ships. The navigation systems (GPS/INS) of the new versions will be more immune to EW interferences and will be armed with a greater variety of warheads.