Thailand plans to buy Israeli Rampage missiles and Elbit precision munitions
The Royal Thai Air Force is looking to expand its precision-strike capabilities with IAI’s standoff missiles and Elbit’s MPR-500 bombs and Lizard III guidance kits.
Thailand is moving to deepen its military relationship with Israel, with the Royal Thai Air Force planning to acquire Israel Aerospace Industries’ Rampage standoff missiles alongside precision munitions from Elbit Systems, according to Aviation Week.
The planned purchases would give Thailand access to a broader range of Israeli air-launched weapons, including Rampage missiles, Elbit’s MPR-500 penetration bombs and Lizard III guidance kits. The move comes after recent border conflicts and as the Thai Air Force seeks to expand its precision-strike capabilities.
The planned acquisition is notable because it follows Thailand’s recent decision to buy an Israeli air defense system from IAI. Rather than a single procurement centered on defensive capabilities, Thailand is now looking to Israeli suppliers for both air defense and precision-strike weapons.
Thailand moved last December to accelerate a deal worth more than $100 million with IAI for the Barak MX air defense system. It was the first time the country had purchased an Israeli air defense system. The agreement included an option to expand the contract, and Barak MX is designed to counter threats including cruise missiles, helicopters, fighter aircraft, UAVs, ballistic missiles and rockets.
The Barak MX deal was linked to Thailand’s concerns over the acquisition of long-range rockets and ballistic missiles by neighboring Myanmar and Cambodia. The system can engage threats at ranges of between 35 and 150 kilometers and can be deployed on land or aboard naval vessels.
The planned Rampage purchase would add a different capability. Developed by IAI, the weapon is a standoff missile, meaning it can be launched from outside the immediate range of the target’s defenses.
The procurement comes against the backdrop of Thailand’s recent border conflict and the Thai military’s growing emphasis on precision weapons. The Royal Thai Air Force has said it is committed to using high-precision weapons in military operations and to minimizing civilian casualties.
