At this stage of the ongoing conflict, Ukraine is prioritizing protection against sea and air-based cruise missiles, as well as tactical ballistic missiles.
Consequently, Ukraine’s military-political leadership has repeatedly signaled an interest in acquiring Israel’s tactical missile defense system known as Iron Dome. The system was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. A single Iron Dome battery is reported to safeguarding an area of about 150 square kilometers. Rafael contends that Iron Dome can intercept missiles at altitudes up to 10 kilometers, with expectations that its firing range could later extend to approximately 250 kilometers.
Nevertheless, there are currently no available Iron Dome units within the Israel Defense Forces. All existing batteries are deployed to protect Israel’s skies. Even if a political decision were reached to supply Iron Dome to Ukraine, such an allocation would require time: the Israeli defense industry would need to fulfill the order, and Ukrainian crews would require retraining before the system could be deployed in Ukraine.
Additionally, Ukraine would require multiple complexes. Given the country’s scale, Iron Dome alone would not suffice to cover all Ukrainian airspace. This system had demonstrated strong performance during earlier conflicts with shorter-range rockets from nearby territories. There is, however, limited data on its effectiveness against modern, high-precision missiles.
More realistic in a broader sense appears to be the delivery of various unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Israel stands as a leader in UAV development, and Kyiv has shown particular interest in several models. Among them is the Harpy, a radar-suppression drone designed to neutralize radar stations. Developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, Harpy employs a flying-wing design, with a top speed around 155 miles per hour, a range near 250 miles, and an endurance of about three hours.
Even more compelling to Ukraine’s forces is the Harpy’s successor, Harop, produced by the MABAT plant, a subsidiary of IAI. Harop builds on Harpy’s experience and carries active radar and high-definition imaging sensors. It is capable of loitering over a designated area for extended periods and locating ground targets for destruction. The drone is launched from a container-type mobile system, can reach roughly 1,000 kilometers in range, and can stay airborne for up to six hours. Harop notably showed effectiveness in previous regional conflicts.
Currently, information about possible arms or equipment deliveries from Israel to Ukraine remains inconsistent. In some high-level discussions and media reports, negotiations in Kyiv are referenced, while official statements from Israeli authorities are cautious or silent. A prominent Israeli newspaper cited government sources suggesting that Tel Aviv would not consider sending offensive weapons or advanced defense technologies like Iron Dome to Ukraine, but may assess deploying equipment that could be supplied without triggering a diplomatic crisis with Moscow. The report suggested that a list of possible items might include certain UAVs with degraded specifications, while more capable offensive weapons were not being discussed at the time.
The author’s perspective here may diverge from editorial lines presented elsewhere. Note that this assessment reflects ongoing, evolving deliberations rather than a fixed policy position. (source: The Times of Israel report attributed to government sources)