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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Unveils Storm Shield Electronic Warfare Suite for UAVs

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems introduced Storm Shield, a compact electronic warfare suite for unmanned aerial vehicles, at the AOC Electronic Warfare Conference in Helsinki on May 24, 2026. The system provides autonomous threat detection and countermeasures for drones operating in contested airspace.

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1 source·May 24, 7:45 AM(5 days ago)·1m read
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Unveils Storm Shield Electronic Warfare Suite for UAVsmedium.com
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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems introduced Storm Shield, a compact electronic warfare suite designed to protect unmanned aerial vehicles in anti-access environments. The system was presented at the AOC Electronic Warfare Conference in Helsinki. Storm Shield continuously monitors the electromagnetic spectrum, detects hostile emissions, and responds with deception techniques.

It uses an AESA-based transmitter and Digital RF Memory technology to provide 360-degree coverage regardless of platform orientation.

During Operation Roaring Lion, also referred to as Epic Fury, several American and Israeli drones were downed by Iranian systems. S. Congressional Research Service reported that the United States lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, each costing approximately $30 million.

Israel reportedly lost over a dozen drones in the same operation. Hostile forces have continued to acquire advanced detection and countermeasure technology.

Shield is derived from larger Rafael systems including Light Shield, Sky Shield, and X-Guard. Its modular design allows integration across multiple UAV classes and supports mission-specific software configurations. The suite operates autonomously, reducing operator workload and enabling faster response times than systems requiring human intervention.

Wide frequency coverage addresses various radar threats while direction-finding supports situational awareness.

Key Facts

Storm Shield
compact autonomous EW suite for UAVs
24 MQ-9 Reaper drones
U.S. losses reported by Congressional Research Service
AESA transmitter and DRFM
core technologies in the new system

Potential Impact

  1. 01

    UAV operators may integrate Storm Shield or similar systems to reduce losses in contested airspace.

Transparency Panel

Sources cross-referenced1
Confidence score65%
Synthesized bySubstrate AI
Word count193 words
PublishedMay 24, 2026, 7:45 AM
Bias signals removed1 across 1 outlet
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