Modern warfare is increasingly focused on stand-off strike systems that allow countries to hit distant targets without risking pilots or troops. In this context, India is examining a reported offer from Israel for the Golden Horizon air-launched ballistic missile, a weapon believed to have a range of up to 2,000 kilometres and very high terminal speed. The proposal comes as militaries around the world invest in long-range precision weapons capable of striking hardened and underground strategic facilities.
How Golden Horizon Enhances Long-Range Strike Capabilities
Ballistic missiles have traditionally launched from ground-based systems capable of travelling thousands of kilometres, and India has developed several such weapons under its Agni program. The Golden Horizon follows a different concept, as a fighter aircraft launches the missile while already in flight, allowing the aircraft to move closer to the target before release and effectively extend the weapon’s reach.
Defence analysts suggest the Indian Air Force could integrate the missile with its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fleet, a key platform for long-range missions. By combining aircraft mobility with ballistic missile speed, the system could significantly enhance stand-off strike capability.
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Reports indicate Israeli developers derived the system from the Silver Sparrow target missile, which defence teams previously used to simulate ballistic threats during missile defence tests before adapting it for operational use. While official specifications remain undisclosed, estimates place its range between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres, enabling strikes from safer airspace as modern air defence systems become increasingly advanced.
Designed to Strike Hardened and Underground Targets
Not all missiles are designed for the same purpose. Many tactical missiles used by armed forces focus on battlefield targets such as radar stations, ammunition depots, air defence systems, and command centres near combat zones. Systems earlier supplied by Israel to India, including LORA and Rampage, mainly belong to this tactical category and are effective against operational targets.
Analysts believe Golden Horizon serves a different role and describe it as a deep-strike weapon designed to attack hardened targets such as underground command bunkers, reinforced storage sites, and heavily protected strategic facilities. Military planners construct many modern installations underground to help them survive air attacks.
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As an air-launched ballistic missile, a fighter aircraft releases the system in flight, after which it climbs to high altitude and then descends toward its target along a ballistic trajectory. During this final phase, gravity accelerates the missile to extremely high speeds.
Experts estimate the missile could reach hypersonic speeds above Mach 5, making interception much harder for air defence systems. Its destructive power comes not only from explosives but also from the massive kinetic energy generated during high-speed impact, allowing it to penetrate reinforced structures.
A New Category Within Layered Strike Systems
Modern air forces now rely on layered strike capabilities instead of a single type of weapon. Military planners use different systems for different missions and distances. Short-range weapons target battlefield positions, medium-range systems support operational needs, while long-range weapons strike heavily protected infrastructure located far from active combat zones.
Analysts view the reported Golden Horizon missile proposal as part of this advanced layered approach. By combining the flexibility of fighter aircraft with the speed and trajectory of a ballistic missile, it represents a hybrid system positioned between traditional air-launched cruise missiles and ground-based ballistic weapons.
Speed is a key factor attracting attention. Cruise missiles usually fly low and slower to avoid detection, whereas ballistic missiles depend on altitude and extreme velocity to overcome air defences. Golden Horizon is believed to follow the ballistic model, focusing on high speed and strong penetration capability.
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This has led to comparisons with systems like BrahMos, one of the fastest cruise missiles currently in service. However, Golden Horizon’s expected ballistic path and possible hypersonic terminal phase place it in a different operational category.
Officials have not announced any official procurement decision, but ongoing evaluations indicate that authorities continue efforts to strengthen long-range precision strike capabilities without exposing aircraft to heavily defended airspace.