Defense Ministry trials display drone interception solutions

Yesterday, the Ministry of Defense conducted experiments in southern Israel in which Israeli startups and veteran defense companies demonstrated technologies and systems for intercepting drones. The trials were held following the deadly Hezbollah drone attack on an Israeli army base near Binyamina.

The trials were attended by Defense Minister Yoav Galant, Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, Defense Ministry Director General Major General (Reserve) Amir Baram, and the head of the Israeli Defense Research and Development Directorate, Brig. Gen. Dr. Danny Gould.

The trials were held several weeks after Gallant instructed a rapid, competitive process to find solutions to the objection. Eight companies participated in the experiments: Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael, Airobotics in cooperation with Rafael, Xtend in cooperation with Xioma and Elbit, General Robotics, Smartshooter, and the American company Fortem in cooperation with Elbit.

Elbit demonstrated its Iron Hawk system with interception capabilities based on drone interception. IAI demonstrated its Phalcon device and another advanced solution designed for interception at greater ranges. Rafael has introduced the Typhoon 30mm remotely operated weapon system to intercept a range of air threats, which is expected to enable long-range interception capabilities and integrate into the defense concept of strategic locations.

Airobotics in collaboration with Rafael introduced a cutting-edge system developed with multi-use capabilities to intercept drones. Xtend, in collaboration with Xioma and Elbit, demonstrated a high-tech drone interception system, and General Robotics presented a Pitball system to intercept medium-range projectiles. Smartshooter presented a unique development, enabling precise targeting of a wide range of interceptions and threats, and Fortem, in collaboration with Elbit, presented the development of a network-based interceptor drone.

As part of the competition, defense companies presented prototypes of their interception systems developed under the leadership of DDR&D and demonstrated UAV interception capabilities at different ranges and flight altitudes. After completing the analysis of the results of the experiments, the Ministry of Defense will select several technologies that will enter into an accelerated development and production process, with the aim of deploying new operational capabilities within just months. CEOs of defense companies participated in the trials.

New capabilities will go into accelerated development

“The drone threat is a multi-front threat originating from Iran, which provides drones to Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq, as well as launching them itself,” Gallant said. “To confront this threat, we must focus a national effort by all businesses on the issue in order to find solutions.” Operational on a short time scale.

Gold added: “Based on the instructions of the Minister of Defense and the Director General of the Ministry of Defense, we, in cooperation with the Israeli Defense Forces, have formulated an operational architecture, which includes layers of detection, tracking and interception. Any technology that matures is added to, and in the series of experiments, we have achieved important achievements in enhancing new capabilities for intercepting unmanned aircraft.” pilot, which will now enter accelerated development.

Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on October 15, 2024.

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