Rafael is about to complete one of its largest deals in history and one of the most significant in the history of Israel's defense industry, after being selected to supply air defense systems to Romania, as part of a large national program to upgrade the country's defense system.
This was announced by the Romanian Defense Ministry last week on international websites. The contract has not yet been signed.
The process was a tender that lasted several years and ended with Rafael's selection over European competitors, including those from Germany and France. The deal is estimated to be approximately €1.9 billion, or around $2.2 billion.
If the deal with Romania is completed, it will be the second-largest defense deal in Israel's history, following the massive sale of the Arrow-3 system to Germany for approximately $3.5 billion, which was signed in 2024.
The contract is expected to include a phased deployment of the defense systems and long-term support for the Romanian system while ensuring compliance with NATO standards.
The system to be delivered as part of the deal is SPYDER, which provides protection against a variety of threats, including aircraft, helicopters, drones, and missiles, at short and very short ranges. This system is in growing demand among NATO countries and is already in operational service with several military forces worldwide.
How the SPYDER system works
The SPYDER system (acronym for Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) is an advanced air defense system for short and medium ranges, based on existing Rafael air-to-air missiles, Python 5 and Derby, which have been converted for ground launch. The system is mobile and includes vertical launch capabilities, a fast-response smart radar, and an advanced command and control system.
SPYDER is capable of detecting and destroying aerial targets in a very short response time. It is tailored to handle dynamic threats, including drones, short-range ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles. Due to its high modularity, it can be installed on various ground platforms, making it a particularly flexible solution on the modern battlefield.
The system is marketed in four main models: SPYDER-SR (short range), SPYDER-MR (medium range), as well as ER and LR versions for longer ranges. It is considered one of the few systems in the world capable of performing both "soft interception" and "hard interception" — meaning it can destroy an aerial target and also disrupt it electronically, as needed.