Rafael wins $2.2b Romanian air defense deal

Romania’s Ministry of Protection introduced right this moment that it has chosen Israel’s Rafael Superior Protection Techniques because the winner of its tender for the procurement of a short-range and ultra-short-range air protection system (V/SHORAD). The tender is price an estimated €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion), with earlier experiences indicating that the system supplied by Rafael is the Spyder. The settlement between the Romanian Ministry of Protection and Rafael has not but been signed, however the ministry’s assertion signifies that the choice has been made and the signing is a proper process.

On signing, this deal will change into the second largest protection sale ever by the State of Israel, after the sale of the Arrow 3 air protection system by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to Germany in 2023, for $3.5 billion. That deal broke the document of the sale of the Barak 8 (MRSAM) programs to India in April 2017, for $1.6 billion. A few month later, naval Barak 8 missiles had been offered for a further $630 million.

Spyder is a sophisticated air protection system, which is in operational use in a number of armies around the globe, together with the Czech Republic and Morocco, and offers air protection options at totally different ranges and towards quite a lot of aerial threats, together with drones, plane, helicopters and short-range ballistic missiles. The system intercepts the threats utilizing two households of interceptors manufactured by Rafael – Python and Derby.

The tender that Rafael received was authorized by the parliament in Bucharest in 2020, and the procurement course of started in 2023. This strategic deal completes Romania’s air protection procurement, which included shoulder-launched missile programs and platforms for long-range threats.

The Romanians plan to finance a part of the deal, utilizing funding from the EU, together with the Ammunition Manufacturing Help Act (ASAP) and the Strengthening the European Protection Trade by means of Joint Procurement Act (EDIRPA), which would require the Israeli firm to subcontract manufacturing to corporations In Europe, and Romania particularly. Nevertheless, Rafael has in depth expertise in integrating overseas corporations, with its well-known product collection – Spike collection anti-tank missiles – being manufactured in Europe by Eurospike, which is a three way partnership of Rafael and two European corporations, with equal holdings.

Rafael defeated Germany and France

Past the deal itself and its excessive worth, it is a important achievement for Rafael, because of the rivals it confronted within the tender: the Korean firm League NEX1 was eradicated from the method final yr, on account of issues with the tender paperwork, however extra important than it had been the European big MBDA and the German firm Diehl. MBDA, headquartered in Paris, supplied the Mistral 3, whereas Diehl supplied the IRIS programs. A few month in the past, Rafael remained the ultimate bidder left within the tender course of, however at the moment, there was concern that it is perhaps canceled, on account of gaps between the Israeli firm and the Romanian Ministry of Protection. Gaps that had been clarified right this moment that had been resolved, and led to the closing of the deal.

A considerable benefit of the Spider system, which probably influenced the Romanian decision-making course of, is the opportunity of utilizing the Spider in its distinctive All in ONE model. This configuration gives a whole air protection system that features: an integral radar, a devoted electro-optical payload, a sophisticated command and management system, and Python and Derby interceptors, all put in on only one car.

This configuration constitutes an optimum air protection answer for level protection or as air protection for maneuvering forces, as a part of a Spider battery or in an impartial deployment and operated by a minimal staff of operators. In a trial carried out in January 2024 in Israel, a number of situations simulating present and future threats had been examined, throughout which the Spider system, in its new configuration, intercepted an unmanned aerial car in a difficult operational state of affairs with a direct and exact hit.

Revealed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on June 30, 2025.

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