Israeli company Rafael, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence of Israel, has successfully completed a test of the advanced Spyder air defence system in its latest All In One (AIO) configuration. 

The test included the interception of a UAV in a challenging operational scenario, achieving a direct and effective hit.

The Spyder system is operationally used by several military forces worldwide, providing air defence solutions against various airborne threats, including missiles, UAVs, aircraft, helicopters, and tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs). 

It consists of a Command and Control system (C2), 2 cabin workstations, a missile launcher of a maximum of eight canisterised missiles, and a telescopic mast with a four-panel, fully-phased 360° non-rotating surveillance and fire control radar array. It also features an electro-optical system for daytime and nighttime surveillance and target acquisition on the said mast.

The system intercepts threats using two families of Rafael-manufactured interceptor missiles, Python-5 (with IIR sensor seeker) and Derby (with BVR active seeker). Lately, Rafael introduced a new configuration for the Spyder, the All in One, featuring an integrated radar, electro-optical launcher, advanced control, and command system, and Python and Derby interceptors, all mounted on a single high-mobility, 8×8 wheeled platform. 

According to the company, this configuration serves as an optimal air defence solution for point defence or area defence, either as part of a Spyder battery or deployed independently with minimal operator involvement.

Also read: “SPYDER” | Multi-layered air defence by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems

Operational Concept

Capable of operating autonomously or interfaced on a higher echelon (C2), SPYDER AiO radars detect threats on the move (search-on-the-move) and quickly transitions into its fire-on-the-halt mode. When a threat is detected or an order is given the vehicle halts, the stabilizing jacks extend, the radar extends to full height and the launcher reaches a nearly vertical position, ready to fire – all controlled from the Work Station and without requiring the crew to leave the vehicle’s cabin.

 Technical characteristics:

• Maximum missile range: 40 km (I-Derby ER) / 20 km (I-Derby SR) / 15 km (Python-5 SR)
• Maximum intercept altitude: 12 km  (I-Derby ER) / 9 km (I-Derby SR) / 6 km (Python-5 SR)
• Maximum number  of simultaneous target engagement: 4
• Minimum time to change from mobility to combat readiness: 3 min
• Recovery time: 3 min
• Weight (including 8 missiles): 30 tons

Last year, Rafael revealed that it upgraded the Spyder and it is now capable of intercepting tactical ballistic missiles (TBMs). The introduction of this feature is the product of Rafael’s Counter-TBM Spyder program, which involved researching and analyzing the lessons learned from recent and ongoing armed conflicts involving extensive use of tactical ballistic missiles. 

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