Rafael's Battle-Proven Weapons at Farnborough 2026 and Europe's $864 Billion Defense Surge

At the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 (20–24 July), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is showcasing a wide portfolio of combat-proven weapons and air defense systems that directly target Europe's urgent procurement priorities as NATO allies dramatically boost defense spending to record levels.

Combat-Proven Systems on Display at Farnborough

Rafael is exhibiting at stand C315 with a focus on systems battle-tested in active conflicts, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East .

Air Defense & Counter-UAS

• Iron Beam — a high-energy laser system that shoots down rockets, mortars, and drones with directed energy, described as the world's first operational laser air defense system
• SPYDER — an advanced surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging aircraft, drones, and precision-guided munitions, already in service with eight armed forces including the Czech Republic
• Iron Dome — the well-known anti-rocket and mortar defense system, presented as part of a layered air defense architecture; it has conducted more than 10,000 combat interceptions over 15 years of operational service with a success rate well above 90%
• Counter-UAS solutions — dedicated systems including DRONE DOME and HUNTER EAGLE, designed to detect, track and defeat low-altitude threats

Long-Range Precision Strike & Standoff Weapons

• ICE BREAKER — a penetrating, air-launched cruise missile designed to strike hardened underground bunkers with high precision
• LANCER — a precision standoff missile
• Sky Sniper — a precision guided munition
• SPICE family — electro-optical precision strike kits, with the SPICE 250 noted for its Automatic Target Recognition capability in active operational conditions

Other Integrated Capabilities

• Airborne intelligence, communications, cyber capabilities, and satellite systems
• TYPHOON 30 — a remote weapon station recently tested against drone threats
• Naval defense systems, including the C-Dome naval Iron Dome variant

Alignment with the European Defense Spending Surge

The timing and product mix are closely aligned with a historic European rearmament:

• Record spending: European military expenditure surged 14% in 2025 to $864 billion — the fastest annual increase since 1953 . NATO's European allies and Canada raised core defense spending by nearly 20% compared to 2024 .
• All 32 NATO allies now meet the 2% of GDP target, up from just 9 members a decade ago . Collective NATO defense spending hit 2.77% of GDP in 2025 .
• New 5% target: At the 2025 Hague Summit, NATO allies committed to spending 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, with an interim 3.5% core defense requirement .
• EU defense investment is projected to reach 2.5% of European GDP, with spending exceeding 2% of GDP in over three-quarters of member states .

The direct alignment is clear: European nations are urgently procuring precisely the categories Rafael is showcasing — layered air defense (Iron Dome, SPYDER, Iron Beam), counter-UAS systems, long-range precision strike (ICE BREAKER, LANCER), and naval/maritime defense . Rafael explicitly frames its Farnborough presence around European requirements, and its systems are already in service or being evaluated by multiple European militaries . The Russian war in Ukraine has proven the vital need for these exact capabilities, making Rafael's "combat-proven" claim a strong marketing advantage for budget-constrained European buyers seeking off-the-shelf, battlefield-validated solutions .