Israel Nears Multi-Billion Shekel Air Defense Deal with Czech Republic

Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is on the verge of a major arms deal with the Czech Republic, reportedly worth several billion shekels, to supply the Czech army with its SPYDER air defense system. The agreement, currently in final stages, involves four SPYDER All-in-One systems, which integrate radar, launchers, Python and Derby interceptor missiles, and a command and control system onto a single vehicle. This compact configuration allows for rapid deployment against missile, drone, and aircraft threats within a range of several tens of kilometers.

The negotiations are being conducted between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Czech Ministry of Defense under a government-to-government (G2G) framework. This follows a similar deal in 2021 where the Czech Republic acquired four SPYDER systems for approximately 600 million euros, with some already delivered after modifications to meet Czech military and NATO standards.

The potential deal comes amid heightened concerns in Europe regarding Russian aggression. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated at the NATO Days exhibition in Ostrava, where one of the SPYDER systems was displayed, that "the security of our citizens is paramount. The Czech Republic, along with all of Europe, needs protection against ballistic missiles." Rafael's chairman, Yuval Steinitz, was also present at the event.

Rafael highlighted that the SPYDER program with the Czech Republic is evolving into a comprehensive national air defense capability. The SPYDER system is already in service with a double-digit number of countries worldwide. This potential Czech deal follows a significant 2 billion euro contract with Romania in June for the same system and a recent 3 billion euro deal with Greece for a multi-layered air defense array, which includes Rafael's David's Sling and SPYDER systems alongside systems from Israel Aerospace Industries.

The SPYDER system's interceptors, Python and Derby, were developed by Rafael, facilitating its global sales. Unlike the Iron Dome and David's Sling, whose development received U.S. funding and require U.S. approval for export, SPYDER's export is less restricted. The U.S. has permitted the sale of David's Sling to Finland and Greece. In 2025, Europe accounted for 35% of Israel's total defense exports, which reached a record high of over $19 billion that year.