Rafael Aims for US Army with New Missile and Drone Defense Systems
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Israeli defense firm Rafael is showcasing new missile and drone defense systems at the AUSA 2026 exhibition, aiming to expand its U.S. Army presence. The company is highlighting its Spike LR2 missile integration with existing TOW launchers and its Iron Wasp drone interceptor. Rafael is also emphasizing local U.S. production of its defense systems, including the Tamir interceptor for the Iron Dome. The company's offerings align with the U.S. Army's efforts to accelerate technology adoption and counter evolving threats.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Rafael is introducing the MCLU2 system to integrate Spike LR2 missiles with existing U.S. Army TOW launchers.
- The company is showcasing the Iron Wasp, a drone interceptor for armored vehicles, at the AUSA 2026 exhibition.
- Rafael is increasing local production of its defense systems, including the Tamir interceptor, in Arkansas.
- The U.S. Army is streamlining its procurement process to adopt mature technologies more quickly.
- Rafael's 'Wind Shield' active protection system will be installed on four NATO countries' Leopard 2A8 tanks.
- The company has a significant order backlog of NIS 76.4 billion as of the first quarter of 2026.
Israeli defense contractor Rafael is seeking to expand its presence within the U.S. military by showcasing new solutions at the AUSA 2026 exhibition. A key offering is the MCLU2, part of the Spike missile family, which enables the use of Spike LR2 missiles with existing TOW launchers on Bradley fighting vehicles and other American platforms. This integration allows the U.S. Army to enhance range and precision while leveraging existing infrastructure.
The timing aligns with a shift in U.S. defense procurement, which since 2025 has been streamlining the process from mature technology to actual deployment. The U.S. Army favors commercial, ready solutions, centralized procurement, and faster capability transfers. Rafael sees this as a significant business opportunity in the world's largest defense market, as integrating with existing platforms reduces adaptation, training, and implementation times.
Rafael is also emphasizing local production in the U.S., evidenced by the recent completion of the first full production of its Tamir interceptor in Arkansas, a joint effort with Raytheon serving both Israel and the U.S. market. This follows the successful U.S. production of the Iron Dome interceptor.
Addressing the growing threat of drones, Rafael is presenting the Iron Wasp, a small interceptor for armored vehicles designed to counter FPV drones and similar threats. The U.S. Army has increased its acquisition and testing of counter-small aircraft systems. Additionally, Rafael is displaying the Samson system, which combines a 30mm cannon, two Spike LR2 missiles, and the "Wind Shield" active protection system, offering armored vehicles multi-threat capabilities.
The "Wind Shield" system has already seen international success, with a €330 million contract signed in January to equip four NATO countries' Leopard 2A8 tanks. On the offensive side, Rafael is showcasing a mobile ground-based Spike NLOS for long-range engagements and the L-SPIKE 4X loitering munition. The Spike NLOS is already operational on U.S. AH-64E Apache helicopters.
In air defense, Rafael is exhibiting its Sky Sonic system for hypersonic threats, alongside Tamir, Stunner, and its laser systems, Iron Beam and Light Beam. This comprehensive display highlights Rafael's strategy of selling integrated layers of defense and offense rather than individual systems. The company currently holds a backlog of NIS 76.4 billion as of the end of Q1 2026, following NIS 21.7 billion in sales in 2025.
