Czechia receives all four Israeli SPYDER air defense systems — Jerusalem Post
Czechia has received all four SPYDER air defense systems purchased from the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Czech Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna announced the completion of the delivery during the NATO Days event in Ostrava, The Jerusalem Post writes.
Integration with the NATO system
The delivery was carried out under an intergovernmental agreement between the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Czechia concluded in 2021. All batteries were adapted to the requirements of the Czech military and NATO standards. The Czech Ministry of Defence stated that SPYDER is fully integrated into the Alliance's air defense system, while maintenance and servicing are provided in Czechia.
Zůna called the introduction of the system a significant technological and qualitative step for the country's air defense. According to him, it is an element in creating a modern layered defense of Czechia's airspace.
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SPYDER capabilities
According to the Czech defense ministry, the systems are intended to protect both stationary facilities and maneuvering ground units on the battlefield. The mobile rapid-response SPYDER system is designed to counter a broad range of aerial threats.
The SPYDER family includes systems of various ranges — SR, MR, LR, ER and All-in-One. They use Python-5 and Derby missiles, adapted from air-to-air missiles for ground launch. The system is designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, drones and precision-guided weapons and, according to the source, can simultaneously engage several targets at distances of up to 160 kilometers in all weather conditions.
The EL/M 2106 radar manufactured by Elta, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries, can track up to 500 targets simultaneously. SPYDER has been in service for more than 15 years; it is also used by, among others, Romania, the UAE, Morocco, India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.
