Iranian hackers claim breach of Israeli defence firm linked to Rafael

Iranian hackers have claimed responsibility for stealing classified materials from a subsidiary of the Israeli defence contractor Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, publishing what they say are internal assembly records for several advanced weapons.

The leaked materials purportedly include documentation related to the Or Eitan laser system, the David’s Sling air defence system, and the IceBreaker naval cruise missile, among others, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

Rafael has denied that any sensitive or classified information was compromised. Company representatives said the hackers had breached a subcontractor responsible for producing mock-ups of weapons used for defence exhibitions, rather than systems in operational use.

Rafael Advanced Defence Systems is one of Israel’s leading defence contractors, specialising in the development of cutting-edge military technologies, including missile defence systems, precision-guided munitions, and naval and air defence solutions.

Established in 1948, Rafael has a long history of collaborating with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and international partners, providing advanced equipment designed to protect against evolving threats. Its portfolio includes high-profile systems such as the Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Spike missile family, which have been deployed in operational environments worldwide.

The company often works with subcontractors to produce prototypes and exhibition models for testing, demonstrations, and international defence shows. While Rafael maintains strict cybersecurity and information security measures, the defence sector remains a frequent target for state-sponsored and independent hackers due to the strategic value of its technologies.

Breaches of subcontractors, even if they do not involve operational systems, can still raise concerns about the exposure of sensitive design and development information.

By Aghakazim Guliyev