Israeli companies demonstrated a high profile in
DEFEXPO, evident to the warming relations between India and Israel
and the growing volume of defense exports between the two
countries. One of the hottest issues was UAVs – India has already
bought Searcher and Heron systems from IAI. The company displayed
here a wide range of payloads that can be fitted with these UAVs,
including a SAR, maritime patrol radar and ESM payloads. More
Israeli companies are trying to interest India in UAV designs - in
this year's event, both Elbit Systems and RAFAEL demonstrated
their UAV capabilities, with the introduction of the miniature
Skylark systems. (Both
RAFAEL and Elbit chose the
same name for their mini UAV programs). Another miniature UAV – I-SEE was unveiled here, for the first time by IAI. Elbit has
also brought a full scale model of the Hermes 180 close range UAV,
designed for brigade and division level. EMIT brought to India its
field proven systems, including the Blue Horizon and Sparrow.
Another new system from Elbit was the tactical satellite
communications terminal, demonstrated here I live operation for
the first time. The system resulted from cooperation between Elbit
and Gilat Satellite Communications Company. It can link to any
satellite and integrate tactical networks with voice or data
communications, over long ranges via satellite relays. Elbit has
also developed and tested a special podded satellite link, mounted
on top of the fuselage of medium and large UAVs such as the Hermes
1500 and Hermes 450. This installation does not limit the range or
performance of the UAV but extends it range to the maximum range,
well beyond the communications range of existing terrestrial
datalinks. RAFAEL also presented the Stalker system, proposed for
border security and tactical surveillance roles.
