Israeli companies show off battle-proven systems at Farnborough Airshow

Israeli companies showcased cutting-edge battle-tested systems at the Farnborough International Airshow, highlighting their growing global influence in defense technology. The event, which opened on July 20, 2026, saw major defense firms, including Israeli entities, unveil advanced platforms and solutions amid rising military budgets fueled by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) introduced the ELLYON, a next-generation multi-role aircraft engineered for operations from stand-off distances of hundreds of kilometers. This capability allows the aircraft to exert influence in contested areas while staying beyond the range of enemy threats. According to IAI, the ELLYON combines electronic attack systems with Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) and ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance) functions. It features long-range Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI) radar, electro-optical sensors, and satellite communication systems, forming a unified platform that supports both intelligence collection and battlefield shaping. Dror Bar, IAI’s vice president and ELTA Systems CEO, emphasized that the ELLYON significantly reduces the intelligence cycle time and enhances operational flexibility in complex environments. Boaz Levy, IAI chairman, noted that the aircraft continues the legacy of merging technological advancement with field-tested performance, integrating intelligence, electronic warfare, and mission control into one airborne platform that offers strategic advantages in modern combat scenarios. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems also made notable displays, featuring the Iron Beam high-energy laser air defense system. This system, the most combat-proven in the world, has successfully intercepted thousands of threats, including rockets, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, across multiple operational campaigns over the last 15 years. Rafael also demonstrated precision-strike weapons such as the SPICE 250, ROCKS, and the ICE BREAKER cruise missile, along with the LITENING 5 targeting pod. The LITENING 5, already deployed with 28 air forces globally, was recently used by a Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter to neutralize Iranian drones over Jordan, employing the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). Elbit Systems, through its UK subsidiary, highlighted its contributions to the British Armed Forces, presenting synthetic training systems, electronic warfare technologies for the Royal Navy’s Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) program, and uncrewed aerial systems like the Thor and Magni-X, currently in service with the British Army. The company also introduced the X-Sight helmet-mounted display, enhancing helicopter pilot situational awareness via wide-field overlays of mission and sensor data. The Farnborough Airshow follows France’s Eurosatory defense exhibition, where Israeli participation was heavily restricted. France barred government officials and prohibited the display of offensive weapons, leading to the isolation of Israeli company booths behind large black barriers. Unlike Eurosatory, Farnborough, focused on commercial aerospace, did not impose similar restrictions, enabling Israeli firms to present comprehensive portfolios, including precision-strike weaponry and electronic warfare systems.