Tel Aviv: Israeli defence companies continue to develop counter-UAS systems. Israeli company Rafael, and SpearUAV, an Israeli company developing AI-based encapsulated weapon systems, announced a strategic collaboration to develop and market the Iron Wasp.
Iron Wasp is an advanced encapsulated UAS interceptor, a derivative of SpearUAV’s Viper I (Interceptor) that brings an organic, on-the-move aerial interception capability directly to ground combat platforms.
For decades, Rafael has built and continuously evolved one of the defence industry’s most comprehensive force protection architectures. From the combat-proven Trophy Active Protection System, which has defended armoured platforms against anti-tank threats across multiple generations of conflict, to the Drone Dome family of counter-UAS systems offering 360-degree all-weather detection and engagement, to the SAMSON family of remote weapon stations integrating kinetic firepower with advanced situational awareness, and the Lite Beam high-energy laser providing cost-efficient directed-energy engagement against drone threats.
Rafael has consistently demonstrated the ability to bring diverse, complementary technologies together into coherent, fielded protection solutions. This is not a portfolio of isolated systems. It is a doctrine of layered, integrated defence, with each capability reinforcing the others across detection, classification, soft-kill, and hard-kill engagements.
The proliferation of unmanned aerial threats has fundamentally reshaped the risk environment for ground manoeuvring forces. Commercially derived drones, purpose-built loitering munitions, and top-attack systems now pose persistent, low-cost challenges that no single technology can reliably address alone.
Rafael’s approach, validated through operational experience in some of the most demanding battlefield environments in the world, is to address this complexity through layered, interconnected capability. Iron Wasp extends that approach to a new engagement envelope: organic, platform-resident aerial interception.
Deployed from a compact multi-canister launcher integrated directly onto a fighting vehicle, Iron Wasp provides an autonomous, ready-on-demand intercept option that complements the wider force protection suite without adding operational burden to the crew.
Built on the core technologies of SpearUAV’s proven Viper family of loitering weapon systems, Iron Wasp is designed for integration with Rafael’s sensor and lethality solutions, including the detection and tracking systems already deployed across Rafael’s force protection portfolio. Its open architecture supports compatibility across a wide range of armoured and tactical platforms, enabling flexible fielding across diverse customer requirements.
The collaboration joins SpearUAV’s expertise in autonomous encapsulated UAS technology with Rafael’s track record in system integration, combat-proven lethality, and the delivery of scalable, interoperable protection architectures to defence forces worldwide.
The systems is available for launch on demand, providing time-critical interception capability against fast-moving, manoeuvring and loitering low-signature aerial threats without pre-mission preparation.
According to the companies a minimal size, weight, and power footprint ensures operational flexibility and ease of integration across armoured fighting vehicles, APCs, and tactical platforms of varying weight classes.
Housed within a compact multi-canister launcher, Iron Wasp integrates directly onto a wide range of ground combat platforms and their C2 systems without significant modification.
Designed for integration with Rafael’s combat-proven sensors and warhead solutions, supporting versatile application across diverse operational scenarios, platform types, and force protection configurations.
“Rafael’s strength has always been our ability to bring the right technologies together into a protection architecture that is greater than the sum of its parts. We have built that architecture layer by layer, from active protection on the vehicle to directed energy in the air, from kinetic weapon stations to sophisticated detection and battle management systems. Iron Wasp represents exactly the kind of innovation that strengthens this architecture, adding an organic aerial interception capability that our customers increasingly need. SpearUAV has developed something genuinely impressive in the Viper family, and we are glad to bring it into the fold. Together, we are delivering a more complete answer to one of the most pressing challenges facing ground forces today,” stated Executive Vice President Tzvi Marmor, Head of Land and Naval Systems Divison, Rafael.
“Rafael is the innovation leader of the Israeli and global defence industry,” said Yiftach Kleinman, CEO of SpearUAV.
“Its Active Protection Systems (Trophy and Irone Dome) are remarkable examples of this. We are proud that, after an extensive process, SpearUAV is selected to be part of the family of systems that has saved and will save many lives all over the globe. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art encapsulated solutions that address the evolving threats faced by maneuvering forces,” added Kleinman.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
