TEL AVIV, — Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has unveiled SUPER ICE, a new long-range cruise missile equipped with a 1,000-pound (454 kg) warhead. Designed for air, land and sea launch platforms, the missile is intended to strike high-value targets, including advanced air defence systems and fortified structures.
SUPER ICE expands Rafael's ICE BREAKER and SEA BREAKER missile family with a significantly heavier payload. Its 454 kg warhead is four times heavier than the approximately 250-pound (113 kg) warhead of the original ICE BREAKER. It is described as compatible with the American Mk 83 bomb and features a programmable fuze delay, selectable impact angles and heading options for precision strikes.
Multi-Platform Launch and Advanced Guidance
The missile is designed for integration with fighter aircraft, including the F-35, F-16 and F-15, without requiring major airframe modifications. It also supports land-based and naval launch platforms.
SUPER ICE features autonomous navigation, low-altitude terrain-following flight and high-subsonic speed. Its electro-optical guidance system uses image matching, scene matching and automatic target recognition to identify targets in all-weather conditions.
The missile also incorporates electronic warfare resistance, low-observable features and navigation capabilities that allow it to operate without relying on GNSS signals. An optional human-in-the-loop mode provides additional operator control.
Rafael has not disclosed its exact maximum range, speed or price. However, the company states that its range significantly exceeds the approximately 300 km associated with the earlier ICE BREAKER missile.
Rafael Highlights Existing Infrastructure and Cost Benefits
Rafael Chairman Prof. Yuval Steinitz described SUPER ICE as the best cruise missile of its kind and highlighted its ability to conduct long-range strikes against high-value targets. He also connected its development with the company's earlier POPEYE missile family.
President and CEO Yoav Tourgeman said the system builds on decades of cruise missile development and operational experience while addressing growing demand for advanced multi-domain capabilities.
Gad Geva, Senior Vice President and Head of Rafael's Air Systems Division, highlighted its compatibility with existing launch systems, logistics and mission-planning infrastructure. He said customers could use SUPER ICE alongside ICE BREAKER to select weapons according to mission requirements while reducing life-cycle costs and resource requirements.
ICE BREAKER Family's Commercial Success
Rafael's ICE BREAKER family has generated more than $1 billion in revenue by 2023, according to the supplied company information, with orders exceeding 1,000 missiles in 2024. Reports also indicate that the family has six international customers, although their identities have not been disclosed.
SUPER ICE adds a heavier warhead and multi-domain launch capability to Rafael's cruise missile portfolio. The company has not announced a confirmed operational service date or disclosed specific orders for the new missile.
——— End of Article ———