Israeli defense firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and SpearUAV have announced the development of the "Iron Wasp," an advanced drone designed to intercept aerial threats, particularly drones and loitering munitions. The compact system mounts on armored fighting vehicles and can engage fast-moving targets while on the move, providing ground forces with a deployable organic air-defense layer without prior setup, according to the companies.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and SpearUAV have announced the development of the Iron Wasp, a compact interceptor drone designed to protect ground forces from aerial threats, including hostile drones and loitering munitions. The system is mounted on armored fighting vehicles and can engage fast-moving targets while the vehicle is manoeuvring, offering a mobile, organic air-defense capability without requiring pre-deployed infrastructure.
The announcement extends a trend in Israeli defense innovation toward short-range counter-UAV platforms. Earlier this month, at the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition, German firm Mehler Protection presented the SCILT system, a shotgun-based vehicle-mounted counter-drone solution, as The Zioneer reported on June 17. The Iron Wasp represents a more integrated drone-on-drone interception approach, tailored for maneuvering forces in frontline areas.
The companies described the development as part of the "organic air force" revolution for ground troops. No timeline for operational deployment or testing milestones was provided in the announcement.
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