Israeli Defense Firms Target US Market With Advanced Tech at AUSA 2026
Israeli defense companies showcase advanced combat systems at AUSA 2026 in Washington, targeting the US defense budget amid growing export records.
Following a record year with 19.2 billion dollars in arms sales, Israeli defense industries are targeting the US market. More than 20 Israeli companies arrived in Washington for AUSA 2026, the largest land forces exhibition in the USA, showcasing new developments and combat-proven systems. The focus is the world's largest defense budget, which President Donald Trump aims to push to 1.5 trillion dollars by 2027.
Israel is one of only nine countries establishing national pavilions at the prestigious exhibition, alongside Norway, Denmark, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, and Greece. Unlike concerns over boycotts in Europe, Israeli representatives were welcomed in Washington. However, protests regarding the war in Gaza occurred outside and inside the venue.
On Wednesday, protesters interrupted a panel featuring US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on accelerating autonomous systems in the US military. Chants of war criminal and references to Gaza interrupted the session. After security removed the protesters, the panel resumed.
19 Companies in the Israeli Pavilion
The prominent Israeli presence follows a Ministry of Defense export push. In 2025, exports reached a record 19.2 billion dollars, with Europe accounting for 36 percent and North America 13 percent. SIBAT leads a national pavilion featuring 19 Israeli firms, alongside independent booths by Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael, and Elbit Systems. Major general Nadav Lotan, head of the IDF Ground Forces, also attended to present combat experience to foreign buyers.
From Hypersonic Interceptor to Armed Drone
A standout system is Rafael's Sky Sonic, designed to intercept hypersonic missiles, displayed with a full-scale model. Rafael also showcased developments from the Spike missile family. Israel Aerospace Industries unveiled HawkGuard, an active defense system against drones, and FIRE STORM 250, an unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with a remote-controlled machine gun developed with SIG SAUER. Elbit Systems presented an upgraded version of the SkyStriker loitering munition, known in the IDF as Sharakh. Other firms exhibited anti-drone nets, GPS jamming countermeasures, and AI thermal vision systems.
