Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
State-owned Israeli defense maker of the Drone Dome counter-UAS system, the Iron Beam high-energy laser and the Protector uncrewed surface vessel.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is Israel's state-owned developer and manufacturer of air, land, naval, space and cyber defense systems. It traces its origins to 1948, when it was set up as the Science Corps (HEMED) under the Israeli defense establishment, and it was incorporated as a government-owned limited company in 2002. The company is based in the Haifa area in northern Israel and works closely with the Israel Defense Forces while exporting to customers abroad.
For a robotics and autonomy audience, Rafael's most relevant portfolio sits in counter-drone defense, uncrewed naval vessels and loitering munitions.
Drone Dome is Rafael's modular counter-UAS system. Published product descriptions list two AESA pulse-Doppler radars with 360-degree coverage (RPS-42 MHR, up to 5 km, and RPS-82 ieMHR, up to 10 km), the SPEED-ER day/night electro-optical sensor (detection and identification out to 8 km), passive RF direction-finding and DTOA sensors that can locate both the drone and its operator, and a multi-band directional/omnidirectional RF and GNSS jammer. An open-architecture C2 fuses these sensors and effectors into one air picture and can link to UTM/ATM layers. A laser-equipped variant hands targets from the C4I to a laser director for hard-kill interception; in 2020 Rafael showed Drone Dome downing a three-drone swarm with its laser. The system is offered in mobile, stationary and naval configurations. The UK was its first overseas customer, buying six systems in 2018 for about USD 20 million, and the British Army deployed Drone Dome during the December 2018 drone disruption at London Gatwick Airport.
Iron Beam is Rafael's ground-based high-energy laser interceptor, a solid-state system in the 100-150 kW class designed to engage drones, rockets, mortars and other aerial threats. The first unit was delivered to the Israeli Air Force in December 2025; during 2026 Rafael and the Air Force were still completing the steps needed for full operational use.
Protector is Rafael's uncrewed surface vessel (USV) family. Rafael supplies the remote-control and mission module, including a stabilized Mini-Typhoon weapon station, electro-optics and radar, allowing a commander to operate the boat from shore. The Israel Navy has operated several generations of Protector; a third-generation fleet of four vessels built on an Oregon Iron Works hull was introduced from 2016 for economic-waters defense, mine countermeasures and anti-submarine tasks.
In loitering munitions, SPIKE FIREFLY is a 3 kg, tablet-controlled munition for dismounted troops with a dual seeker, target tracker and computer-vision homing; Israel's Ministry of Defense ordered it for IDF ground forces in 2020. In November 2025 Rafael introduced the L-SPIKE family, starting with L-SPIKE 1x, a retrievable coaxial-rotor loitering munition with a fragmentation warhead, built to operate under GPS jamming, spoofing and communication disruption.
Rafael's wider portfolio includes the Iron Dome counter-rocket system, David's Sling, the Trophy active protection system for armored vehicles (delivered to the German Army on Leopard tanks), the SPIKE family of electro-optical guided missiles (operated by more than 46 countries), and the Litening 5 targeting pod selected for the Eurofighter Typhoon.
In 2025 Rafael reported sales of about USD 6.8 billion, net profit of USD 423 million, new orders of USD 10.4 billion and a record backlog of USD 23.3 billion, with 46% of sales going to international customers and more than 8% of revenue spent on R&D. It employs roughly 10,000 people and hired about 2,000 more during 2025. Its CEO is Yoav Tourgeman and its chairman is Dr. Yuval Steinitz. The company remains wholly owned by the State of Israel; a partial share sale had been proposed but not approved as of mid-2026.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
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Contact Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
WEBSITE
https://www.rafael.co.ilHEADQUARTERS
Israel
Company Facts
Founded
1948
Primary Role
Manufacturer
Company Size
-
Primary Region
Middle East
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
-
Funding Total
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