RAFAEL is pleased to announce the successful completion of a test for its advanced SPYDER air defence system in its newest configuration – All-in-One – which was conducted by RAFAEL with the Israeli Ministry of Defence Directorate of Defense Research & Development. The test involved intercepting a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in a challenging operational scenario, achieving a direct and effective hit. The SPYDER system, produced by RAFAEL, is operationally used by several military forces worldwide, providing air defence solutions against various airborne threats, including missiles, UAVs, aircraft, helicopters, and tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs). The system intercepts threats using two families of RAFAEL-manufactured interceptor missiles, PYTHON and Derby.
The SPYDER (“Surface-to-air Python and Derby”) is an Israeli short and medium range mobile air defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with assistance from Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). Rafael is the prime contractor and IAI is the major subcontractor for the SPYDER program. This system achieved a notable milestone in 2005 when missiles were fired against test targets in Shdema, Israel and scored direct hits. Since then, it has been showcased in multiple military exhibitions throughout the world. The SPYDER is a low-level, quick-reaction surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, drones, cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions. It provides air defence for fixed assets and for point and area defence for mobile forces in combat areas.
Brigadier General (Res.) Pini Yungman, Executive Vice President and Head of the Air Defense Division at RAFAEL, said, “RAFAEL is a global expert and a leading developer of air defence systems that have proven themselves in combat against a myriad of advanced threats and at various ranges. Among the leading systems currently in operational use in Israel and worldwide are Iron Dome, SPYDER, and David’s Sling. The success of the current test with the SPYDER All-in-One system represents another technological breakthrough that RAFAEL pioneered, providing solutions tailored to different evolving threats in various arenas. The success of the test is a significant milestone in developing the system against different threats and demonstrates the system’s outstanding effectiveness in intercepting challenging ground-launched threats. As a significant contributor to national security, RAFAEL will continue to develop advanced air defence solutions that incorporate the latest technology for the IDF and its customers worldwide.”
Recently, RAFAEL introduced a new configuration for the SPYDER – the All-in-One, featuring an integrated radar, electro-optical launcher, advanced control and command system, and PYTHON and Derby interceptors, all mounted on a single platform. This configuration serves as an optimal air defence solution for point defence or area defence, either as part of a SPYDER battery or deployed independently with minimal operator involvement. In the test conducted last month in Israel, the SPYDER All-in-One system successfully intercepted a UAV in a complex operational scenario, achieving a successful interception of the target. Configurations of the SPYDER Air Defence System are in operational use by several countries worldwide, including the Czech Republic, which signed a procurement agreement with RAFAEL in 2020.
