Czech Army Unveils Advanced Israeli Defense Systems at IDET 2025

At the IDET 2025 exhibition held last week in Brno, Czech Republic, the Czech Army revealed for the first time advanced Israeli combat systems in its inventory: the Rafael SPYDER SR air defense system and the IAI Elta ELM-2084 MMR radar.

Both systems were procured under a government-to-government $627 million deal between the Czech Republic and Israel, signed in 2021, with deliveries and integration completed in early 2025.

The SPYDER SR is a mobile short-range surface-to-air missile system (SHORAD) designed for rapid response against modern aerial threats, including fighter jets, helicopters, UAVs, and precision-guided munitions. Mounted on a Czech-made Tatra 8x8 chassis, the launcher vehicle carries four ready-to-fire Python-5 or Derby missiles. The system is fully networked via a command-and-control unit linked to sensors such as the ELM-2084 radar, enabling real-time threat detection and engagement.

The ELM-2084 MMR radar provides Czech forces with core situational awareness and threat detection capabilities. It can simultaneously track hundreds of airborne targets, calculate impact points, and direct intercepts. Operating in the S-band, it can engage threats up to 100 kilometers away. Its modular design and ability to function in diverse combat environments make it an ideal match for Czechia’s need for flexible and responsive defense solutions.

According to the Army Recognition website, the Czech Army’s adoption of these Israeli systems reflects a broader geostrategic alignment with NATO and a decisive shift toward a modern, mobile, and interoperable defense posture. As tensions rise across Europe’s eastern frontier and air threats grow more complex and asymmetrical, systems like the SPYDER SR provide a credible deterrent and serve as a force multiplier for collective defense initiatives.

This first-time public presentation of these systems marks a significant milestone in national defense modernization. These advanced Israeli technologies deliver a powerful combination of mobility, rapid reaction, and all-weather target engagement, offering Czechia a robust shield against contemporary aerial threats.