After French court intervenes, Israeli firms rushing to get to Euronaval

On the eve of the annual Euronaval show, a French court has overturned a ban that would have prevented most Israeli companies from showcasing their products at the event. And while that’s good news for Israeli vendors, it also has left key members of the defense industry here scrambling to see if abandoned plans to attend the conference can be salvaged last minute.

In mid-October, it was announced that any Israeli firms whose products are being used in the war in Gaza would be barred from presenting at Euronaval, occurring in Paris Nov. 4-7, with the Jerusalem Post saying at least a dozen companies would be affected.

It was the second time the rug had been pulled out from under Israeli firms in France, following the firms being banned from attending Eurosatory earlier this year — a restriction which French courts also overturned, though with too little time left for Israeli companies to react. Prior to Euronaval, the French government claimed that the ban didn’t prevent Israeli companies from participating, but rather prevented them from “promotion of weapons used in Gaza and Lebanon, which cause unacceptable damage to the civilian population.”

Companies that want to showcase their wares now have a logistics challenge. Generally, models or full-size products for these kind of defense shows need to be shipped in advance. The uncertainty left companies in the lurch on whether to ship items at all, and now some have to figure out if they want to bother getting equipment in place.

Of the “big three” Israeli firms, Elbit is not presenting at the show. Israel Aerospace Industries, which in the past has showcased radars for naval solutions, as well as missiles, electro-optics and drones, is still weighing the logistics of trying to attend the show on short notice after the court decision. (IAI’s subsidiary Elta has collaborated with Hensoldt in the past on solutions for submarines. Hensoldt, which is not an Israeli company, is attending EuroNaval.)

And in a statement to Breaking Defense, a Rafael spokesperson said the company “is readying for Euronaval where it is focusing on unique modular naval solutions, asymmetric warfare and layered air defense at sea. From C-Dome to the C-UAS capable Typhoon and its various configurations, there is a whole lot in store [for the exhibition].”

In the past Rafael has showcased its naval remote weapon station to counter UAVs, the naval version of its Spike missile system, EW systems, including C-Gem which deceived missile seekers and the Torbuster anti-torpedo system. Over the past year Rafael’s C-Dome, the naval version of Iron Dome, has had its first operational interception and the company has been pitching a modular version of C-Dome.

A major player when it comes to naval assets is Israel Shipyards. In a statement, the company told Breaking Defense it has already shipped products to France for the show and plans to attend.

“Israel Shipyards will unveil our newest platform, the Mini Shaldag, specifically designed to address the unique challenges of river and lake environments,” the company said. “Regarding the recent French ruling, the issue of non-discrimination is a central factor in European law. As we have seen with the court’s decision following our petition, it is also upheld in France. However, our focus remains on showcasing our innovative solutions at Euronaval, where we aim to connect and collaborate on pressing maritime security needs.”

After publication, DSIT said it will be exhibiting at Euronaval and will present SeaShield, which the company described as “a unique, long-range underwater detection system that provides comprehensive situational awareness in the underwater domain.”

Orbit did not respond to a request for comment, but the company, at least on paper, is set to have a booth at the event. In the past, Orbit showcased its satellite communication terminals at the show. Orbit announced on October 29 that it had secured a $3 million contract with “a leading European integrator to supply advanced satellite communication systems for naval military surface platforms.” It did not name the integrator of the platform.

The Israel Ministry of Defense did not comment on the developments, though Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant previously said the French decision was a “disgrace.” And in a post on social media, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz congratulated the Israeli companies who had petitioned the French court on the outcome of the ruling.

The announcement was a “significant victory against the unjust and undemocratic decision by the French government to prevent Israeli companies from participating in the Euronaval exhibition,” Katz said. “This outcome, achieved in part through the legal and diplomatic efforts of the Foreign Ministry, is a critical win for justice and a clear message against attempts to weaken Israel in its fight against forces of evil.”

Seth Frantzman is the author of The October 7 War: Israel’s Battle for Security in Gaza (2024) and an adjunct fellow at The Foundation for Defense of Democracies.