Israeli-based Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, well known for designing Israel’s Iron Dome, has entered the emerging loitering munitions market with their FireFly device. Developed in collaboration with the Israel Ministry of Defense, the FireFly is a miniature “kamikaze drone.” Emphasis on miniature. The FireFly is just 16 inches tall, weighs less than five pounds, and carries a 350-gram warhead. Cylindrically shaped, the FireFly is transported in a small tube, and fits neatly into the pack of an infantryman. The drone takes off vertically, using coaxial rotors.
The FireFly, built for urban warfare, is especially apt for roosting out entrenched enemy forces – like snipers, RPGs, or IED triggermen – while keeping infantrymen removed from direct lines of fire. The FireFly’s operator controls the FireFly from a small, handheld tablet. With its onboard camera, the FireFly transmits surveillance footage back to the operator, who may select a target at will, and deploy the warhead-packing FireFly in a 70 kilometer kamikaze dive. The FireFly has proven successful, prompting an order from the oft-engaged Israeli Defense Forces. Actually, the US army is mulling a FireFly order, too.
Israel’s mini drone is not perfect. Offering only 15 minutes of flight time – and confined to a 500 meter range – the FireFly’s user is forced to act quickly. Fortunately, the FireFly was designed with easily swappable batteries, and, more importantly, a Return to Sender feature. Unlike other loitering munitions systems, like the Switchblade 300, the FireFly can return to its operator at the touch of a button. And the reusable FireFly, rugged and practical, is outfitted with onboard sensors that help the drone navigate congested urban environments, avoiding trees, powerlines, and the like. Accordingly, The FireFly is well suited for combatants entrenched in urban environments, outgunned by the opponent, and keen to preserve its precious human capital. Like Ukraine, for example.
Ukrainian forces would certainly benefit from an infusion of FireFly mini-drones. In fact, the Ukrainians have recently become enamored with the similar Switchblade 300, which has proven quite effective at destroying Russian tanks. The FireFly may not be as effective against tanks, but it would aid Ukrainian infantrymen bogged down in defense of rubble-strewn urban centers like Kyiv, Kharkov, Odessa, or Donetsk.
The question is: would Israel supply Ukraine with military aid?
Israel is unique among Western-aligned nations in that Israel maintains friendly relations with Russia. Nearly 15 percent of Israel’s population immigrated from, or is a first-generation descendent of, the former Soviet Union. Today, Israel has a proud, Russian-speaking community. The two countries enjoy strong diplomatic and economic ties. And not to be overlooked: Russia serves as a powerful check against Iranian influence in Syria.
Complicating matters, Israel has favorable relations with Ukraine, too, putting the Jewish state in something of an awkward middle ground. Israel has spent the last several months attempting to navigate that middle ground, toeing the line between Russia and Ukraine, while aspiring to mediate. But pressure is growing, mostly from moral outrage rather than any strategic imperative, for Israel to assist Ukraine. Over three-fourths of the Israeli population is pro-Ukraine – a stance protesters demonstrate during vibrant rallies.
Perhaps, increased pressure from the Biden administration could convince the Israelis to provide Ukraine with military aid, like a shipment of FireFly drones. Recently, the US has been critical of Israel harboring Russian oligarchs as they flee sanctions. But the US has also acknowledged Israel’s security concerns, and supported Israel’s triangulating mediation efforts. Further, the US is close to Israel, who seems to know at this point that the massive amounts of aid they receive from the US is divorced from conditions or expectations. Then, of course, is the murkier question, what are the US’s true objectives for the Ukrainian conflict? Protect Ukrainians? Or bog Russia down indefinitely, Afghanistan-style, in a resource sucking debacle? Unclear – but don’t expect the US to apply substantive pressure on Israel.
Israel, for their part, is intensely focused on their immediate region. They have acute concerns at home – and they don’t have much at stake in the Ukraine-Russian conflict. The countries currently providing the Ukrainians with military assistance all have direct interests in the outcome. The United Kingdom, France, Germany are regional powers in the very region of the conflict. The US is a hegemon, determined to prevent another hegemon from emerging in Europe. Israel, however, lacks much incentive to wade deeply into the conflict. Don’t expect an infusion of Israeli military tech into Ukrainian forces anytime soon.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Defense Editor at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, he joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison has degrees from Lake Forest College, the University of Oregon School of Law, and New York University’s Graduate School of Arts & Science. He lives in Oregon and regularly listens to Dokken.
