Iron Dome and Iron Beam maker Rafael arrives at Farnborough with Europe in its sights
At Farnborough Airshow, Rafael is showcasing combat-proven missile defenses alongside long-range strike systems, while Elbit Systems is highlighting airborne and laser technologies as European militaries accelerate rearmament.
As Europe embarks on its biggest military buildup in decades, Israel's Rafael and Elbit Systems are heading to the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK with a clear message. The country's two largest defense companies are betting that combat-proven technologies, manufacturing capacity and operational experience will give them an edge as governments race to replenish their arsenals and strengthen their defenses.
At the major aerospace gathering, Rafael and Elbit Systems are showcasing a broad portfolio of technologies ranging from missile defense and precision weapons to drones, electronic warfare and laser-based air defense systems, as European countries accelerate military spending and reassess the capabilities needed for future conflicts.
The companies are presenting combat experience as a central selling point in a market increasingly focused on the ability to respond quickly to evolving threats.
“The threshold has shifted,” Rafael CEO and President Yoav Tourgeman said ahead of the show. “Proven performance and reliable delivery are now the baseline requirements, not differentiators.”
The emphasis reflects a broader change in defense procurement. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have highlighted the growing importance of drones, low-cost attack systems, electronic warfare and layered air defenses, areas where Israeli companies have developed extensive operational experience.
Rafael is highlighting a portfolio built around multiple layers of modern warfare, including long-range precision strike, intelligence systems, air defense and counter-drone capabilities.
Among the systems the company is presenting is Iron Dome, which Rafael describes as having intercepted thousands of rockets, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles during successive military campaigns.
The company is also highlighting Iron Beam, a high-power laser interception system delivered to the Israel Defense Forces in December 2025. Rafael says the system represents the first operational deployment of a laser-based aerial interception capability and has since been integrated with Iron Dome’s battle management architecture.
Rafael is also showcasing David’s Sling, designed to address medium- and long-range missile threats, as well as SPYDER, a mobile air defense system that was recently selected by Romania in what the company described as its largest defense contract.
The company is also focusing on the growing challenge posed by drone swarms. Its counter-UAS portfolio includes systems such as Sky Dart, Hunter Eagle and Ghost Hunter, designed to provide lower-cost interception options alongside electronic warfare and directed-energy technologies.
Beyond defensive systems, Rafael is presenting new offensive capabilities designed for environments where GPS signals may be disrupted or unavailable.
The company is highlighting SPICE 250, a precision strike system designed to allow aircraft to engage multiple targets without relying on GPS or laser designation.
Another system, ROCKS, is a long-range air-to-surface missile intended for hardened and deeply buried targets.
Rafael is also promoting ICE BREAKER, a cruise missile that combines low radar visibility, terrain-following navigation, artificial intelligence-based scene matching and human-controlled guidance. The company says the system can strike targets at ranges of up to 300 kilometers and can be launched from air, sea and land platforms.
Elbit focuses on the air domain and autonomous systems
Elbit Systems is approaching Farnborough from a different angle, emphasizing its role as a technology supplier to the British military and other international customers.
Its UK subsidiary employs more than 650 people across 15 locations and supplies systems to the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
At the show, Elbit Systems UK is highlighting technologies including its X-Sight Helmet Mounted Display, designed to provide helicopter pilots with a wider field of view combining flight data, sensor information and tactical information.
The company is also presenting electronic warfare systems, synthetic training environments and laser technologies, including high-power laser capabilities and a next-generation airborne laser currently under development.
Another focus is unmanned systems.
Following its acquisition of U-TacS earlier this year, Elbit Systems UK plans to expand its drone manufacturing capabilities in Britain, including the development of autonomous persistent effectors.
The company said U-TacS will become an important part of its growth plans in the UK and its ability to manufacture future unmanned capabilities.
First published: 14:40, 19.07.26
