Israel Delivers Modern Tzeva Adom Air Raid Alert System to Help Ukraine Counter Missile Strikes.

On October 7, 2024, Israel’s Ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, announced the delivery of Israel’s Tzeva Adom, or "Red Light," missile alert system. This milestone is the result of months of collaborative efforts, with Israel supplying the equipment and Ukraine taking charge of its integration and deployment. The system aims to bolster Ukraine’s air defense framework amid increasing missile and drone threats targeting critical infrastructure and urban areas.
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Israeli Tzeva Adom Air Raid Alert System is Now Active in Ukraine (Picture source: German MoD)

Widely used in Israel, the Tzeva Adom system is known for its ability to detect and track missiles, rockets, and drones, providing accurate impact location and timing estimates. In Israel, the system triggers real-time alerts in both civilian and military zones, allowing residents to seek shelter until the threat is neutralized. According to Ukraine’s Ambassador to Israel, Yevhen Korniychuk, system testing began in early 2023 with plans to extend coverage to major Ukrainian cities as part of a comprehensive strategy to protect essential infrastructure from frequent strikes.

Despite the system’s promising capabilities, public criticism has emerged regarding delays in its deployment. Several Ukrainian military platforms have raised concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the rollout timeline. However, experts note that operational security considerations might be a factor in Kyiv's reluctance to disclose details, as doing so could compromise the system’s effectiveness in high-risk areas.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, defense relations between Ukraine and Israel have cautiously progressed, particularly in the area of early warning systems. On February 26, during a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, emphasized Israel's commitment to helping Ukraine in the face of Russian attacks. He highlighted Israel's support since the early weeks of the Russian invasion, including providing over 100 tons of humanitarian aid and deploying field hospitals that assisted thousands. Erdan stressed the need to develop expertise in early warning systems to mitigate the threat of missile and drone attacks, reflecting Israel's willingness to share its capabilities with Ukraine.

In May 2023, Ukraine received 16 early warning radars from Israel, as reported by Israel Defense on May 8. These systems aim to enhance Ukraine's ability to detect missile threats and are integrated into the widely used "Red Alert" system in Israel. Despite initial hesitations due to concerns about escalating tensions with Russia—especially given Russia's control over much of the airspace in Syria—Israeli officials proceeded with supplying the equipment. The system focuses solely on issuing alerts rather than intercepting missiles, using radars and electro-optical devices to detect and classify incoming threats. This collaboration represents a significant step in defense relations between the two nations, aiming to protect Ukrainian civilians amid ongoing conflicts.

While in Israel the Tzeva Adom system operates in coordination with missile defense systems like the Iron Dome, enhancing the country's overall defensive response, in Ukraine it will be integrated with the existing Ukrainian air defense systems. Since Israel does not supply offensive weapons or its own missile interception systems to Ukraine, Tzeva Adom will work alongside Ukraine's current arsenal to provide effective early warning and threat assessment.

In Ukraine, Tzeva Adom is expected to be used in conjunction with air defense systems such as the U.S.-supplied Patriot missiles, German IRIS-T systems, NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System), and the Soviet-era S-300 systems. By integrating with these platforms, Tzeva Adom can enhance the detection and tracking of incoming missiles, rockets, and drones. Its rapid alert capabilities will allow Ukrainian forces to respond more efficiently with their existing defensive weapons, and provide timely warnings to civilians, thereby significantly reducing casualties during attacks.

Among the threats that the system can detect are cruise missiles, such as the Kalibr missiles, capable of traveling long distances and striking strategic targets within Ukrainian territory with great precision. It is also effective against ballistic missiles like the Iskander-M, which follow a ballistic trajectory and can carry powerful explosive charges, representing a major threat to urban areas and military installations.

Furthermore, the Tzeva Adom is capable of detecting rockets and artillery projectiles launched by systems like the BM-30 Smerch or the BM-27 Uragan. These weapons can cause considerable damage over large areas, affecting both civilians and infrastructure. The system is also effective against drones, including kamikaze and reconnaissance drones such as the Shahed-136 of Iranian origin used by Russia. Their ability to fly at low altitudes and evade traditional detection makes them particularly dangerous. Finally, the Tzeva Adom can detect air-to-surface and sea-to-surface missiles employed to target critical infrastructure like power plants, bridges, and military installations, which threaten Ukraine's economic stability and national security.

By detecting the launch of these weapons and quickly calculating their trajectory and probable impact zone, the Tzeva Adom system makes it possible to issue immediate alerts to civilian populations and armed forces. This gives people the necessary time to take shelter and allows Ukrainian air defense units to react effectively using their existing systems, such as American Patriots, German IRIS-Ts, Norwegian NASAMS, or Soviet-era S-300s.

The Tzeva Adom, or "Red Alert" system, is produced by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) through their Home Front Command, in collaboration with several Israeli companies specializing in technology and defense. Among these partners, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and its subsidiary Elta Systems provide critical radar and detection technologies to identify threats in real-time. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems contributes by developing communication and alert systems that allow for rapid emergency information dissemination to civilians, while MPrest Systems manages and coordinates alerts through an integrated software platform, linking threat detection to alert channels (sirens, mobile applications, media). This collaboration between the public sector and private companies enables the Tzeva Adom system to provide a swift and reliable response to aerial threats, ensuring enhanced protection for Israeli civilians.

The integration of the Tzeva Adom system marks a new phase in Ukraine's defensive strategy, providing a proven solution against missile threats. Given the complexities involved in deploying such advanced technology, officials emphasize that these delays are essential to ensure the system reaches its full protective potential.