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Resulting from lessons learned during years of low
intensity conflict in an urban environment, the Israel Defense Forces
is expanding its capabilities and autonomy at tactical levels. New
developments enable organic intelligence collection at battalion and
below, improving real-time situational awareness and response, through
comprehensive network centric systems and the use of unmanned and
robotic systems. Other developments improve the survivability and
protection of platforms and personnel, through the use of exotic new
materials, reactive and active armor systems, as well as sophisticated
countermeasures, combating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
and
other short range anti-armor threats (such as
RPGs).
Several programs managed by the
Israel Ministry of
Defense Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D)
are addressing these issues, in an attempt to provide battalion
commanders maximum autonomy, relying on organic intelligence gathering
capability. A grenade-like, disposable reconnaissance sensor fired
from a grenade launcher, a tennis
ball-sized observation device which
can be rolled into a room before an assault, man-portable unmanned
Miniature Aerial Vehicle (MAV) and miniature aerostat loitering over a
target for hours and a new, low-cost, small ground robot that
autonomously roams an urban battlefield, are only few representative
systems in this field. These new platforms can be quite exotic but
DDR&D deputy director, Brig. Gen. (ret) Yakov Nagel is
focusing on the subsystems and capabilities which render the Israeli
systems unique: "Sensors, communications and the wisdom emplaced in
these vehicle's computers are the key elements for their success".
According to Nagel, DDR&D is supporting specific programs, from the
technology demonstration through full scale development. "Unmanned
vehicles are becoming commodity platforms, Our advantage is the
quality of the output provided by the payload. We decided to invest in
this technology and supported the development of the miniature
payload. We are planning to use these compact payloads in all our
future mini UAVs programs" says Nagel. DDR&D is pursuing ground
robotics programs, with the introduction of autonomous border
patroller and a new, highly agile small robot, designed for operation
in urban environment.
This chapter is part of an article titled:
"Israel Refine R&D to
Support Asymmetric Warfare"
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