Technology report
Defense Update Technology Channel - December 2010
- U.S. Army Extends Intelligence Fusion with Palantir Technology
- Phantom Ray Delivered to Edwards Prior to First Test Flight
- Elbit Systems to Equip the Polish Rosomak with Battlefield Surveillance Suite
- U.S. Army to Field XM-25 ‘Game Changing’ Weapon by 2014
- A Step Closer to Railgun Capability – U.S. Navy Fires Record Breaking 33 megajoul Shot
- Horizon Fuel Cell Tested on Elbit Systems’ Skylark I-LE Mini UAV
- New Counter-Mine System Demonstrates Counter-IED Capabilities
- Boeing Selected to Develop a new Multi-Int Airborne System for the U.S. Army
- British-Israeli JV to Produce Carbon Nanotubes for Defense Applications
Photo Above: On a recent test firing of a U.S. Navy experimental electromagnetic rail gun the Office of Naval Research (ONR) claimed the world record for the muzzle energy. (read more...)
U.S. Army Extends Intelligence Fusion with Palantir Technology
The U.S. Army is establishing an integrated intelligence fusion and analysis capability in Afghanistan, based on Palantir Technologies, Inc. information analysis systems. The work will be completed in 16 months. Palantier provides powerful tools for analysts to fuse unstructured and structured data items from different sources, into enhanced knowledge bases. (Read More...)
Phantom Ray Delivered to Edwards Prior to First Test Flight
The Phantom Ray unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) is a fighter-sized technology demonstrator designed as a flying test bed for advanced technologies. Under the Phantom Ray technology demonstration program the unmanned aircraft will conduct 10 flights over a period of approximately six months, supporting missions that may include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, suppression of enemy air defenses, electronic attack, hunter/killer, and autonomous aerial refueling.(Read More...)
Elbit Systems to Equip the Polish Rosomak with Battlefield Surveillance Suite
By the end of 2011 the Polish Army is expected to equip part of its Rosomak 8×8 armored reconnaissance vehicles with ground surveillance system from Elbit Systems Ltd.(NASDAQ: ESLT). Under the order worth about $16 million, awarded by the Polish Ministry of National Defense, the Israeli company will complete delivering the mobile multi-sensor monitoring and surveillance systems in 2011. (Read More...)
A Step Closer to Railgun Capability – U.S. Navy Fires Record Breaking 33 megajoul Shot
On a recent test firing of a U.S. Navy experimental electromagnetic rail gun the Office of Naval Research (ONR) claimed the world record for the muzzle energy. The test, carried out on December 10, 2010 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division achieved a world-record 33-megajoule muzzle energy shot – over three times the previous world record also claimed in 2008 by ONR. (Read More...)
U.S. Army to Field XM-25 ‘Game Changing’ Weapon by 2014
The U.S. Army is moving forward with an operational evaluation in Afghanistan, of the new, XM-25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement (CDTE) weapon system. Following this current evaluation, the Army will decide on the future procurement of 12,500 CDTE systems to be issued beginning in early 2014. (Read More...)
Horizon Fuel Cell Tested on Elbit Systems’ Skylark I-LE Mini UAV
Elbit Systems has tested the Aeropak fuel cell system with a Skylark I-LE mini-UAV. The suitability of the fuel cell as a power supply for UAVs was evaluated in the recent test was conducted in Israel, using an operationally configured system carrying full mission payload (comprising of a stabilized EO payload, avionics and communications datalink). According to Singapore based Horizon, the fuel-cell powered Skylark I-LE is expected to double the current endurance (around 3 hours), delivering 900Wh net usable energy per liter of fuel. (Read More...)
New Counter-Mine System Demonstrates Counter-IED Capabilities
An airborne electro-optical laser sensor designed to detect minefields has demonstrated the ability to detect simulated improvised explosive devices. The Airborne Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Minefield Detection System (ASTAMIDS) developed by Northrop Grumman, demonstrated this capability during an Army evaluation of the new system. The system was flown on the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial system. (Read More...)
Boeing Selected to Develop a new Multi-Int Airborne System for the U.S. Army
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) was selected by the U.S. Army to develop theEnhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS). The company was awarded $88 million firm-fixed-price contract to develop and integrate the mission package, through the 24 month Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase, delivering up to 12 EMARSS systems – four developmental aircraft, with options for two additional planes and six low rate initial production (LRIP) planes. (Read More...)
British-Israeli JV to Produce Carbon Nanotubes for Defense Applications
A new company established today in Israel will produce carbon nanotube fibre for the enhancement of body armor and composite armour systems for vehicles. The new material is stronger than Kevlar and other ballistic fabrics, but still flexible and lightweight. TorTech Nano Fibers Ltd. The company is a joint venture company owned by Israel’s world leading armor and survivability company Plasan and University of Cambridge spin-out company Q-Flo. (Read More...)