Romania’s Ministry of Protection introduced at the 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 value an estimated €1.9 billion ($2.2 billion), with earlier studies indicating that the system provided 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 develop 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 report of the sale of the Barak 8 (MRSAM) techniques to India in April 2017, for $1.6 billion. A few month later, naval Barak 8 missiles had been bought for an extra $630 million.
Spyder is a complicated air protection system, which is in operational use in a number of armies around the globe, together with the Czech Republic and Morocco, and gives air protection options at completely different ranges and towards a wide range 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 gained 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 techniques 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 via Joint Procurement Act (EDIRPA), which would require the Israeli firm to subcontract manufacturing to firms In Europe, and Romania particularly. Nevertheless, Rafael has in depth expertise in integrating international firms, 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 firms, with equal holdings.
Rafael defeated Germany and France
Past the deal itself and its excessive worth, this can be a vital achievement for Rafael, as a result of rivals it confronted within the tender: the Korean firm League NEX1 was eradicated from the method final 12 months, on account of issues with the tender paperwork, however extra vital than it had been the European large MBDA and the German firm Diehl. MBDA, headquartered in Paris, provided the Mistral 3, whereas Diehl provided the IRIS techniques. 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 at the moment that had been resolved, and led to the closing of the deal.
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A considerable benefit of the Spider system, which doubtless influenced the Romanian decision-making course of, is the opportunity of utilizing the Spider in its distinctive All in ONE model. This configuration presents an entire air protection system that features: an integral radar, a devoted electro-optical payload, a complicated command and management system, and Python and Derby interceptors, all put in on only one automobile.
This configuration constitutes an optimum air protection resolution 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 crew of operators. In a trial performed in January 2024 in Israel, a number of situations simulating current and future threats had been examined, throughout which the Spider system, in its new configuration, intercepted an unmanned aerial automobile in a difficult operational situation with a direct and exact hit.
Printed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on June 30, 2025.
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