Systems include 30mm cannons, drones that launch nets

Defense Ministry carries out tests on new anti-drone systems in development

Nine companies display technologies during ‘contest’ attended by defense minister, other officials; successful systems to be further developed

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Footage shows targets that drones shot down during a test in southern Israel, February 4, 2025. (Defense Ministry)

The Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research & Development said Wednesday that it had completed a series of tests on new anti-drone defense systems that are still in development.

Arms contractors Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, and six smaller companies — Airobotics, Tamar, Xtend, General Robotics, SMARTSHOOTER, and Robotican — presented different solutions for the unmanned aerial vehicle threat, with the first tests being carried out in October and a final test on Tuesday.

The systems that did well in the tests would move on with development with full Defense Ministry funding.

The ministry said that during Tuesday’s final tests at a firing zone in southern Israel, each of the nine companies “displayed interception capabilities of UAVs of different ranges, speeds, and altitudes.”

The companies presented some 20 anti-drone technologies, including systems using 30mm cannons and other gun-based weapons; interceptor UAVs, including some that launch a net to take down a target drone; and interceptor missiles.

The event, which the ministry described as a sort of competition, was attended by Defense Minister Israel Katz; the ministry’s deputy director and head of its planning division, Itamar Graf; head of the DDR&D, Danny Gold; head of the IDF’s Planning and Force Design Directorate, Vice Adm. Eyal Harel; and other officials.

“Upon completion of an analysis of the current experimental results, the Defense Ministry intends to choose a number of technologies that will enter into an accelerated development and manufacturing process. This is to deploy new operational capabilities in the immediate time frame,” the ministry said Wednesday.

Some 1,300 drones were launched at Israel since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, from all fronts — Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. According to IDF data, 231 of the drones struck Israel, causing casualties and damage in a handful of cases.

“The UAV threat is an evolving and multi-arena threat that has expanded to all our combat sectors, led by Iran and its proxies. This threat has already extracted a heavy human toll from us, which is why we have mobilized all tools to develop an effective response,” Katz said in remarks published by the ministry on Wednesday.

A target drone is shot down during a test in southern Israel, February 4, 2025. (Defense Ministry)

“The series of tests we conducted represents a national effort led by the DDR&D, with participation from major defense companies alongside innovative startups. Everyone has joined the mission with the understanding that defending Israel’s skies is a top priority. Against our enemies, we are committed to continue advancing and introducing new capabilities to the battlefield in the near term,” he said.

“We will act to ensure maximum protection for our citizens and forces on the ground against UAVs from Iran, Yemen, Lebanon, and any arena where we may be required to respond,” Katz added.

Most Popular
read more: