The secret submarine missile that bypassed a US arms refusal

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When the United States refused to sell Israel long-range submarine missiles due to international rules, Israel developed its own. The resulting weapon, a variant of the Popeye cruise missile, is now believed to be a primary strategic deterrent capable of striking targets from hundreds of miles away.

The Popeye missile family, developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, serves as a cornerstone of Israeli long-range precision strike capabilities. While the standard Popeye is a solid-rocket-powered missile used by various nations, its 'Turbo' variant introduced a jet engine and folding wings to achieve greater range. The system is designed for standoff attacks, allowing launching aircraft to release the missile and escape the area before it reaches its target, guided by an inertial navigation system and terminal imaging infrared or television seekers.

A significant geopolitical shift occurred in 2000 when the US Clinton administration refused Israel's request to purchase Tomahawk long-range submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCM) because of international MTCR proliferation rules. In response, Israel is believed to have developed a stretched version of the Popeye Turbo for submarine use. This variant is reportedly jet-powered, liquid-fueled, and capable of carrying a 200 kiloton nuclear warhead. In a 2002 test observed by the US Navy in the Indian Ocean, a variant was tracked hitting a target 1,500 km (930 mi) away.

The missile's versatility is demonstrated by its diverse export and domestic variants. The Popeye II (or Popeye Lite) was shortened and lightened for use on aircraft like the F-16I Sufa. Other derivatives include the Crystal Maze, developed for India with a 100 km range, and the ROCKS (Crystal Maze II), which was test-launched in April 2024 from a Sukhoi Su-30MKI. These systems allow for precision strikes against high-value targets, including long-range radars and air defense systems in GPS-denied environments.

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