Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has introduced Storm Shield, a compact electronic warfare (EW) suite designed to give unmanned aerial vehicles the kind of survivability traditionally reserved for manned aircraft.
The system, revealed at the AOC Electronic Warfare Conference in Helsinki, is designed to protect UAVs operating inside anti‑access/area‑denial (A2/AD) environments.
While UAVs have grown more capable in sensors, endurance, and autonomy, they have remained largely exposed to modern air‑defense networks. As radar systems, passive detection arrays, and electronic counter‑countermeasures have advanced, drones without active protection have become vulnerable at precisely the moment they are being asked to shoulder more of the operational burden.
During Operation Roaring Lion, aka Epic Fury, several American and Israeli drones were downed by Iranian systems. The US Congressional Research Service, quoted by Stars & Stripes, said that the United States lost 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones at a cost of around $30 million per aircraft. Israel is reported to have lost over a dozen.
Hostile forces continue to acquire sophisticated technology, and aerial platforms must have suitable self-protection tech to detect threats and effectively counter them. To increase survivability, platforms must be able to automatically and autonomously detect and identify threats and react with as short a response time as possible – while allowing the aircrew to continue with their mission.
Lightweight, autonomous EW suite
Rafael’s Storm Shield is a lightweight, fully autonomous EW suite that continuously monitors the electromagnetic spectrum, detects and analyzes hostile emissions, and responds with tailored deception techniques. Its architecture provides 360‑degree coverage, ensuring that protection is maintained regardless of platform orientation or maneuvering, a critical factor for drones performing dynamic ISR or strike missions.
At the core of the system is an AESA‑based transmitter paired with Digital RF Memory (DRFM) technology, the same foundation behind Rafael’s larger airborne and naval EW systems such as Light Shield, Sky Shield, and X-Guard.
These capabilities, already validated in operational combat environments, have been miniaturized to meet the strict size, weight, and power constraints of unmanned platforms. The system is fully programmable, allowing mission‑specific software configurations, and its modular design enables integration across a wide range of UAV classes.