Five European countries already own Israeli air-defense systems and several more are in negotiations to buy them.
By Hezy Laing
European demand for Israeli air‑defense systems has surged dramatically in recent years, with multiple governments signing record‑breaking contracts for platforms such as Arrow‑3, David’s Sling, Iron Dome, and various radar and command‑and‑control suites produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Elbit Systems.
The most significant deal came in August 2023, when Germany signed a €3.5 billion agreement to purchase the Arrow‑3 exo‑atmospheric interceptor, making it the largest defense export in Israel’s history; the system, jointly developed by IAI and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, is designed to intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes exceeding 100 kilometers.
Finland followed in April 2023 with a $316 million purchase of the David’s Sling system, becoming the first European country to adopt it; the system, developed by Rafael and Raytheon, provides medium‑range interception capability against cruise missiles, rockets, and UAVs.
Czech Republic acquired the SPYDER MR (Medium Range) system from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in 2024. The deal is valued at approximately $630 million USD, making it one of the largest Czech defense acquisitions in decades.
Then Romania signed a deal in 2024 to acquire Iron Dome batteries.
Now Greece is nearing a €3B agreement for a multi‑layered “Achilles Shield” system including David’s Sling, Spyder, and Barak MX.
In addition Switzerland is in negotiations with Israel (alongside France and South Korea) for long‑range anti missile defense systems such as Arrow or David’s Sling, due to Patriot delivery delays.
Meanwhile, Slovakia and Hungary have expanded cooperation with Israeli firms on radar networks such as the ELM‑2084 Multi‑Mission Radar, the same sensor used by Iron Dome and selected by Canada and India
European militaries cite Israel’s real‑world combat experience as a key factor; Iron Dome has intercepted more than 5,000 rockets since its 2011 deployment, with success rates often reported above 90 percent, and David’s Sling has been used operationally since 2017.
The war in Ukraine accelerated demand, with European defense ministries seeking rapid‑deployment systems capable of countering drones, cruise missiles, and short‑range ballistic threats; Israeli systems, already combat‑proven, offered immediate availability compared to slower European development cycles.
Israel’s defense industry, led by IAI CEO Boaz Levy and Rafael CEO Yoav Har‑Even, has expanded production lines to meet European orders, while joint Israeli‑European working groups have been established to integrate Israeli interceptors into NATO’s air‑defense architecture.
Analysts say Europe’s interest reflects a broader shift toward layered air defense, combining long‑range systems like Arrow‑3 with medium‑range platforms such as David’s Sling and short‑range solutions like Iron Dome; several countries are evaluating hybrid networks that fuse Israeli interceptors with American Patriots and German IRIS‑T batteries.
