IAI to upgrade SLAF Kfir’s
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently signed a contract, worth USD $50 million with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence to upgrade Kfir aircraft for the Sri Lankan Air Force. The deal includes replacing the aircraft’s basic avionics with the advanced 4+ generation fighter aircraft avionics in order to one day integrate advanced radar, sensors, communication systems, and new helmets. The upgrade process will also include transfer of knowledge and skills for refurbishment to Sri Lankan Air Force personnel. The upgrades will be completed in cooperation with Sri Lanka’s Air Force and in their local facilities.
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IAI sells dozens of Drone Guard Systems
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) though its ELTA Systems group is delivering dozens of Drone Guard (CUAS) systems to a country in South Asia in a deal, worth tens of millions of dollars (USD). The unique multi-sensor multi-layer ELI-4030 Drone Guard system is one of the most capable battlefield proven systems in the world, providing the ability to detect, classify, identify and defeat drone attacks. The Drone Guard system handles hundreds of targets simultaneously and provides a solution to multiple evolving threats worldwide. The system›s advantage derives from the multi-layer implementation concept using a high-resolution 3D X-Band radar a key for drone-detection, an integrated COMIN ESM, multichannel jamming and high resolution EO/IR with integrated AI capabilities.
IAI naval combat suite on Sa’ar 6 Corvettes
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is integrating offensive and defensive systems, to enhance the ‘Sa’ar 6’ corvette’s capabilities and usher the Israeli Navy into a new technological era, under the guidance of Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMoD) and the IDF. IAI, together with the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (part of IMoD) and the Israeli Navy, completed the first phase of installing the MFSTAR (Magen Adir) radars on the Israeli Navy’s ‘Sa’ar 6’ corvettes and will continue to integrate the Barak MX Air Defence System (Ra’am Adir) on the vessels. The radars will serve to locate and classify air and surface targets and help to build an advanced and detailed maritime picture of the surveillance area. The MF-STAR radar system, one of the world’s most advanced radar systems, will serve as the “brain,” integrated with all surveillance sensors on every one of the Israeli Navy’s new warships. The radar system is also an important component of the Barak MX Air Defense System (Ra’am Adir), and provides a layer of defence against advanced aerial and naval threats.
IAI in UAS services contract
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently signed a US$ 200 million contract to provide unmanned aerial systems (UAS) services to a country in Asia, relating to IAI's Heron unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This is the fourth major UAS transaction that IAI has announced this year. The Heron family leads IAI’s range of UAVs. The various Heron models are used regularly for operational missions by over 20 customers worldwide. Controlled remotely from sea frigates or the seashore, the Heron supports ground and maritime missions against submarines and coastal guards. It transmits information while at sea, including between all the weapon systems participating in a mission. The Heron UAS may be fitted with LOS or SATCOM communication, and features “long runner” operational flexibility with automated remote takeoff, landing, and control with no need for deploying a control post near the runway.
IAI to establish 1st PF conversion site in Europe
Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Aviation Group has agreed to establish a passenger to freighter conversion site to convert the Boeing 737-700/800 with Atitech company, at Atitech’s leading MRO centre in Naples, Italy; this, following the rise in demand for cargo aircraft of this model. The cargo conversion site in Italy will join two existing cargo conversion sites in China. The MRO center will supply solutions in maintenance and aircraft renovation, converting passenger aircraft to cargo configuration. In addition, it will provide training and support in licensing and registration.
BlueBird Aero Systems delivers 100 VTOLs
BlueBird Aero Systems, partially owned (50% of shares) by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), completed the delivery of 100 WanderBVTOL UAVs to a European customer. The Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) UAVs are part of a transaction involving over 150 WanderB-VTOL and ThunderB-VTOL UAVs worth tens of millions of dollars (USD). This is the world’s largest number of VTOL UAVs delivered to any customer at one time, and was completed within the agreed timetable despite COVID-19 conditions.
Elbit to supply XACT to UK Armed Forces
Elbit has announced that its UK subsidiary, Elbit Systems UK Ltd. has been awarded an approximately $16 million initial contract by the UK Ministry of Defence to provide the UK Armed Forces with XACT Night Vision Goggles (NVG). The initial contract will be performed over an 18-month period with the potential for additional follow-on orders over a period of five years. Under the contract, Elbit Systems UK will supply the lightweight micro binocular XACT nv33 NVGs in a helmet-mounted configuration. XACT nv33 NVG improves mission efficiency during dark conditions and enables safe, off-road vehicle driving without headlights. Systems from the XACT family have been selected by a number of NATO countries including Germany and the Netherlands, as well as by Israel, and are operationally proven.
Elbit’s E-LynX multi-channels radios for Sweden
Elbit’s German subsidiary, Elbit Systems Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, has been awarded an approximately $23 million follow-on contract by the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV) for the supply of additional Software Defined Radios (“SDR”) for the Swedish Armed Forces. The contract will be performed over a period of 30 months.
Elbit to upgrade US Army pilots night vision systems
Elbit was recently awarded two orders with an aggregate value of approximately $29 million by the US Army›s Programme Executive Office (PEO) Soldier under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite- Quantity (ID/IQ) contract issued in 2020. The orders will be executed from the Elbit Systems of America facility in Roanoke, Virginia with deliveries through September 2021.
RAFAEL’s BNET SDR communication selected
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has been selected by an Asian air force to equip its fleet of aircraft with the BNET-AR communication solution. The BNET Family of SDR provides a robust voice and data-link solution and supports simultaneous services of data, voice and video services with multiple auto relays. The BNET is operational and combat-proven with a number of air forces around the world, featuring a unique, patented software-defined radio and network architecture, delivering wideband communications with low delay and reliable connectivity. The variant that will be supplied is the BNET-AR, a modular multiband SDR for airborne platforms, integrated onboard fighters and helicopters as well as Ground Control Stations equipped with the same BNET-AR, enabling net-centric operations and real-time situation awareness.
Trophy integration on UK Challenger 3 MBTs
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. announced that its Trophy Active Protection System (APS) for armoured vehicles has been selected for the next phase of detailed assessment and integration by the UK Ministry of Defence for the Army’s Challenger 3 MBT. The selection is a result of a study conducted by the UK MOD as part of an upgrade programme led by prime contractor Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL), which will entail detailed integration and system trials of this lighter Trophy variant (Trophy MV), to fit the particular requirements of this vehicle. Trophy has also been supplied to four US Army Abrams MBT brigades, and will soon be supplied to Germany for its Leopard MBT’s.
Rafael unveils the Sea Breaker
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. unveiled its Sea Breaker, a 5th generation long range, autonomous, precision-guided missile system, enabling significant attack performance against a variety of high-value maritime and land targets. Sea Breaker is a naval and artillery unit force-multiplier, designed to overcome the modern warfare arena challenges. Sea Breaker provides surgical, pin-point precision strikes from stand-off ranges of up to 300 km. It features an advanced IIR (Imaging Infra-Red) seeker, ideal for engagement of maritime and land targets, stationary or moving, in advanced Anti Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) arenas, and in littoral or brown water, including archipelago, as well as for engagements in which previous generation RF-seeker-based missiles are not effective. Sea Breaker can be launched from naval platforms, varying in size, from fast attack missile boats, to corvettes and frigates. The land version is a central part of the shore defence, based on Rafael›s highly-mobile SPYDER launchers. The battery architecture supports standalone launchers, or operation as an integrated solution, with a command and control Unit (CCU) and various sensors, based on customer requirements.
UVision’s HERO-120 for US Marine Corps
UVision has been awarded through its Business Development partner, Mistral Inc. to supply the Hero-120 for the US Marine Corps Organic Precision Fire Mounted (OPF-M) System. The system will be integrated with LAV-M, JLTV, and LRUSV. The Hero-120 is a mid-range, anti-armour weapon system which meets the complex requirements of the modern battlefield. Hero-120 is a high precision smart loitering munition system with a unique aerodynamic structure that carries out pinpoint strikes against anti-armour, anti-material and anti-personnel targets including tanks, vehicles, concrete fortifications, and other soft targets in populated urban areas.
Israel MoD in 1st-ever tests with an airborne, high-power laser system
The Directorate of Defence R&D in the Ministry of Defense (MoD), together with Elbit Systems and the IAF, has successfully intercepted several UAVs using an airborne High-Power Laser Weapon System (HPL-WS). The UAVs were intercepted at various ranges and flight altitudes. The test series was conducted under the leadership of the Directorate of Defence R&D in the Israel Ministry of Defence. During this series, a high-power laser system was installed on an aircraft and was tested in a number of scenarios. It successfully intercepted and destroyed all of the UAVs that were launched throughout the test. “The ability to intercept and destroy airborne threats in the air is groundbreaking and offers a strategic change in the air defence capabilities of the State of Israel. This gamechanging series was conducted in a testing field in the centre of Israel, in close cooperation with the IAF and the “Yanat” unit”, stated company officials.
Israel Shipyards to supply SHALDAG MK V’s to the Israeli Navy
Israel Shipyards has announced the signing of an agreement to supply its SHALDAG MK V vessels to the Israeli Navy. The company will provide four vessels which have been adapted to the Navy’s unique configuration requirements. Over the years, the Israeli Navy has used a variety of Israel Shipyards’ vessels for ongoing security missions ‒ including the SHALDAG MK III and the Saar 4 and Saar 4.5 fast attack missile vessels ‒ protecting the maritime borders of the State of Israel. Recently, it was decided to equip the Navy with advanced vessels that will enable an upgrade of the force’s capabilities for its routine security missions. The largest member of the SHALDAG Class, the SHALDAG MK V, is a combatproven, all-aluminum, light and fast vessel driven by powerful waterjets, with a high payload capacity, providing maneuverability and seakeeping. The vessel has a speed of above 40 knots, can accelerate from zero to 40 knots in less than one minute, has a turning diameter of 150m and a minimal draft ‒ enabling operation in shallow waters.
