Israeli defense firm unveils SUPER ICE, new cruise missile built for long-range precision strikes

Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems gave the media a first look at its new SUPER ICE cruise missile on Wednesday. The weapon is the latest in a series of cruise missiles developed by Rafael as militaries worldwide seek to expand the capabilities of their precision-strike systems while making them more affordable.

The SUPER ICE is a long-range cruise missile that can be launched from aircraft, ground-based platforms and ships. According to Rafael, it flies at high-subsonic speeds, can follow terrain at low altitudes and is designed to operate without satellite navigation and withstand electronic warfare. It is intended to strike high-value targets, including in heavily defended areas, using a powerful warhead.

The missile carries a large, MK83-compatible warhead with a programmable fuze that allows the detonation timing, impact angle and direction to be adjusted for each target. Rafael says this enables strikes against complex structures with “low collateral damage.”

SUPER ICE navigation systems allow it to fly autonomously, with an option for human intervention. Other features include optical homing, image-based scene recognition, automatic target recognition (ATR) and “rapid multi-route optimization” to calculate alternative flight paths.

Rafael’s global presence has grown as militaries draw lessons from Israel’s multi-front war and the Russia-Ukraine war. Both conflicts have highlighted the need for long-range strike capabilities and more affordable weapons that can be purchased in larger numbers.