Israel is developing a new interceptor drone called Iron Wasp, designed to protect ground troops and armored vehicles against attack drones and loitering munitions.
According to a report by the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi, the system is the result of a partnership between Israeli companies Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and SpearUAV and was presented as a new layer in the country’s counter-drone defense architecture.
The Iron Wasp is based on the Viper interceptor drone from SpearUAV and can be launched from capsules or containers installed directly on armored vehicles and other military platforms. The aim is to allow forces on the move to have their own short-range air defense capability, without depending on larger systems positioned in the rear.
According to the companies, the system was developed to neutralize attack drones, loitering munitions and other low-signature aerial threats. The interceptor can be deployed while the vehicle remains in motion, offering a rapid response to attacks from above, one of the main challenges faced by ground forces in recent conflicts.
The announcement comes at a time when cheap drones and loitering munitions have shown the ability to threaten even heavily protected vehicles, prompting several countries to seek more agile, mobile and lower-cost interception solutions.
Rafael and SpearUAV have chosen Eurosatory 2026 to unveil Iron Wasp , a new encapsulated air interception capability that integrates directly into combat vehicles and expands the Israeli company’s multi-layered anti-drone defense architecture pic.twitter.com/4W00mdY8P8
— Valhalla (@ELMObrokenWings) June 21, 2026
Photo: RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
