The Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to take a big step towards further strengthening its long-range strike capability. According to reports, the IAF is considering the acquisition of around 200 Israeli ROCKS air-launched missile pods, with plans for technology transfer and local production in India.
If the deal is finalized, ROCKS will become the second Israeli air-launched strike missile to be manufactured under license in India. This is being considered an important signal towards moving from import-based procurement to technology-based partnerships in the defense sector.
The project gained momentum when the Indian Air Force successfully test-fired Crystal Maze-2 (ROCKS) from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI in April 2024. This test was conducted over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in which the missile demonstrated the ability to accurately hit targets at a distance of more than 250 kilometers.
The specialty of the ROCKS missile is its hybrid guidance system, which combines electro-optical and inertial navigation. This technology enables precise strikes even in GPS disrupted or electronic jamming environments, which is considered extremely important for India’s western and northern fronts.
This missile system was also recently used during America’s Operation Epic Fury, where it performed effectively against heavily defended targets. Its success in actual warfare has further sharpened India’s decision-making process.
The proposal is part of India’s broader missile acquisition strategy. In December 2025, the Defense Acquisition Council had approved several Israeli systems, including stand-off weapons such as SPICE-1000, Rampage, Air LoRa and Ice Breaker.
Defense cooperation between the two countries was further expanded during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel in February 2026. Israel has also offered technical cooperation in advanced systems such as Iron Dome, Iron Beam, Arrow and David’s Sling.
If the ROCKS project gets final approval, it will strengthen the “Make in India” initiative. Local assembly is being planned in the initial phase and full production later. For this, talks are also going on on partnership with an Indian private defense company.
According to experts, this missile will give a new height to the “stand-off strike” capability of the Air Force, through which precise attacks can be carried out even while remaining out of reach of the enemy air defense system. This signals a significant shift in India’s defense strategy, with remote strike capability being given priority in line with the needs of modern warfare.
Also read:
Open the Strait of Hormuz, otherwise Pawar plants will be destroyed: Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum to Iran
Mathura: Memorial to be built in memory of cow protector ‘Farsa Baba’, cow shelter will get help
LPG allocation increased to 50%, government adds 20% additional supply after panic booking decline
Comments are closed.