Tel Aviv: Tomer, Israel’s government-owned rocket propulsion specialist, has expanded its collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to better understand the operational requirements connected with IAI’s next-generation Arrow interceptor and other systems capable of countering the hypersonic threat.
Their partnership, formalised via a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and ongoing as of 2026, focuses on expanding synergy in propulsion technologies.
The details of Tomer’s technical specs are highly classified, but sources said that the effort is to adapt new propulsion systems to rockets and missiles made by IAI, Rafael and Elbit Systems.
The efforts focus on new propellants and keeping the motors small without affecting their thrust. A special effort is to adapt the engine for use by IAI’s Arrow 4.
In addition to Tomer, some new companies are developing special methods of missile propulsion. One is NewRocket, which develops advanced, environmentally friendly (“Green Propulsion”) rocket engines based on innovative gel-propellant technology.
Conventional rocket engine technology in either solid or liquid form has many risks, including high toxicity, transportation challenges and produces rockets that are difficult to control or extinguish.
NewRocket is developing proprietary gel technology enabling a stable and non-toxic engine propellant, without sacrificing performance and control.
As a “green propulsion” technology, NewRocket’s gel propellant combines all the advantages of both liquid and solid propellants. Safe to use and transport, the propellant will improve rocket performance, offering a powerful thrust that can be controlled and extinguished when needed.
-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
