According to South Asia Strategic Commentator Akhilesh Pant, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is actively evaluating two cutting-edge Israeli missile systems: the ICE BREAKER from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and the WIND DEMON from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in a determined attempt to improve its long-range precision strike capabilities.
Following the successful operational deployment of the Rampage missile, which proved its efficacy by taking out a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) airbase during recent hostilities, an evaluation was conducted. The IAF is now looking for further more sophisticated deep-strike mission solutions as a result of the Rampage’s performance, which highlighted the critical role that air-to-surface precision weapons play in modern conflict scenarios.
With a range of more than 200 kilometers, the Wind Demon is a lightweight, air-launched cruise missile that weighs around 140 kg. The IAF has a great deal of operational flexibility thanks to its design, which enables integration with a range of aerial platforms, such as fighter jets and helicopters. The missile ensures accurate targeting during day and night operations with its sophisticated electro-optical and laser-guided seekers, Automatic Target Recognition (ATR), and real-time video transmission.
Its person-in-the-loop control, which allows operators to select between speedy and thoughtful engagement modes based on mission needs, is a noteworthy feature. With the ability to be adjusted for fragmentation, explosion, or penetrating effects, the versatile 20 kilogram warhead offers customized lethality against a variety of targets.
With a range of up to 300 km at high subsonic speeds, the ICE BREAKER is a new generation of long-range, precision-strike missiles. It was created by Rafael and may be used on a variety of land, air, and sea platforms, such as light attack aircraft, helicopters, jet fighters, small ships, and ground vehicles.
The missile is extremely resistant to electronic warfare and challenging to intercept thanks to its multi-mode imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, GNSS-independent navigation, and sophisticated terrain-following or sea-skimming profiles. It can penetrate and overwhelm complex Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS) thanks to its very low observable (VLO) signature and synchronized salvo launch capability. This makes it particularly effective against valuable, well-defended targets like command centers, naval ships, and hardened airbases.
Artificial intelligence-driven ATR and scene-matching algorithms further improve ICE BREAKER’s autonomous targeting, guaranteeing great mission efficacy with little collateral damage. Flexible rules of engagement and real-time battle damage assessment are made possible by the missile’s ability to function entirely autonomously or with man-in-the-loop decision backup.
Compared to current systems like the Rampage, the Wind Demon and ICE BREAKER both provide notable improvements, especially in terms of adaptability, durability, and lethality. The IAF’s philosophy of preserving technological superiority and operational preparedness for precision deep-strike missions is in line with their versatility across many launch platforms, sophisticated guidance systems, and capacity to withstand disputed settings. In addition to strengthening India’s deterrence position, the purchase of these next-generation missiles will enable the country to destroy valuable targets located well within enemy territory, even when confronted with extensive air defense systems.
The IAF’s dedication to preparing for 21st-century warfare, when accuracy, speed, and survivability are critical, is shown in this strategic assessment. The IAF hopes to maintain a decisive edge in regional security dynamics and guarantee dominance across complicated, contested areas by possibly adding the Wind Demon and ICE BREAKER to its arsenal.
