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The awards highlighted technologies spanning intelligence collection, electronic warfare, satellite surveillance, and combat operations.
By Shula Rosen
A weapons system credited with playing a key role in Israel’s campaign against Iran, a classified Mossad intelligence platform, and the Ofek satellite constellation were among five projects honored Wednesday with the 2026 Israel Defense Prize.
President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Israel Ministry of Defense Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram presented the awards, which recognize projects developed by Israel’s defense establishment and defense industries.
The awards were presented during a year marked by Operations Roaring Lion and Rising Lion and highlighted technologies spanning intelligence collection, electronic warfare, satellite surveillance, and combat operations.
One of the winning projects was an Israeli-developed weapons system that was deployed operationally and achieved what organizers described as exceptional results.
The system was recognized for its contribution to national security and for its role in the campaign against Iran. The award was presented jointly to the Israeli Air Force, the Israel Ministry of Defense, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Another prize went to a classified system designed to expand the Mossad’s intelligence-gathering and operational reach. The project was developed by the Mossad in cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Israeli Air Force.
The Ofek 13 and Ofek 19 satellite programs also received awards. The satellites provide intelligence capabilities and were recognized for advances in performance while reducing size and weight.
The award was presented to IAI’s Missile and Space Division, ELTA Systems Division, the Space Directorate, the Directorate of Defense Research and Development’s R&D Unit, and Unit 9900 of the IDF Intelligence Directorate.
Additional awards recognized a technological project developed by Unit 81 of the IDF Intelligence Directorate and electronic warfare systems credited with helping maintain Israeli Air Force air superiority.
Organizations involved in the latter project included the Israel Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development, the Mossad, the Israeli Air Force, Elbit Systems’ Elisra, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Unit 8200.
The ceremony was attended by Mossad Director Roman Gofman, ISA Director David Zini, and other senior officials.
The awards coincided with a year in which Israeli defense exports exceeded $19 billion in 2025. Separately, the Israel Ministry of Defense led a delegation of 15 defense companies to ILA Berlin 2026, where Israeli firms presented aerospace, air defense, unmanned systems, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence-based technologies.
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