Israel Has New "invisible" Defense System

Israel has a new weapon in its defense arsenal — and enemies of the Jewish state will never see it coming.

The weapon, which reportedly can halt electronic capabilities of an enemy, is part of a new suite of electromagnetic warfare called Scorpius. 

The Scorpius “missiles” send narrowly targeted beams of energy that disrupt enemy electronic sensors, navigation, radar or other electronic activity, according to Gideon Fustick, the marketing VP of Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel’s state-run defense contractor.

Fustick told Forbes the electronic weapons fall under a category Israel calls “soft protection.”

But he said the new Scorpius weapons have an advantage over older forms of electromagnetic warfare because they can send targeted beams without interfering with unintended targets. He described Israel’s new weapon as a “revolution in warfare.”

“It’s an offensive weapon that doesn’t send out missiles. It’s not a hard-kill system,” he explained. “And yet, it’s very effective in engaging and disabling enemy systems.”

Despite their “soft protection” status, the weapons could cause damage to planes, drones and missiles, all of which function by electromagnetic means.

Electromagnetic warfare is not new and Fustick believes modern warfare will be increasingly centered in the electromagnetic domain.

“It’s the first system that can really detect anything in the sky and address multiple targets in different directions and different frequencies simultaneously,” Fustick explained.

Israel’s claim of the most advanced electromagnetic warfare can only stand for so long. The global electronic warfare market is projected to grow, reaching $20.82 million by 2027, up from $15.57 million in 2020, according to a report.

Fustick explained that as long as both sides use the electronic domain for operations, controlling the electromagnetic field will continue to be a part of modern warfare.  

“The enemy is trying to use the electromagnetic domain for all these activities,” he said. “We are also trying to use them. And we’re each trying to deny the other side from the use of the electromagnetic domain.”