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Israeli defence company Rafael has unveiled a full-size model of its Sky Sonic interceptor, designed to destroy hypersonic missiles travelling at more than five times the speed of sound.
The model was presented at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) defence exhibition in Washington, which opened on Monday, offering a rare public glimpse of a project first announced in June 2023.
Hypersonic missiles pose a growing challenge to air defence systems because of their extreme speed and, in some cases, their ability to manoeuvre and change direction during flight, making them harder to detect, track and intercept than conventional ballistic missiles.
The company has not confirmed whether flight tests have taken place or when the interceptor could become operational.
Around 25 Israeli defence companies are participating in the Washington exhibition, seeking to expand their presence in the American market.
Rafael is also displaying systems including its Iron Dome and David’s Sling interceptors, alongside developments in its Spike family of precision-guided anti-tank missiles.
Israel’s defence exports reached a record $19.2 billion (£14.5bn) in 2025, with North America accounting for 13 per cent of the total, according to Israel’s ministry of defence.
That figure represents a nearly 30 per cent surge compared to the previous year. It more than doubled in five years and quadrupled in a decade.
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