Merlin is a lightweight electrically powered unmanned bi-plane miniature UAV, developed to support light ground forces with surveillance capability. The 1 meter long vehicle uses 1.6 meter span bi-plane wing. Its Gross takeoff Weight is 6 kg, and two-axis stabilized payload weight is 0.8kg. The operator can assemble and prepare the Merlin for a mission in five minutes. The MAV is launched by hand or sling, to a mission of over one hour, at cruising speed of 55 – 75 km/h. At the completion of the mission Merlin automatically returns to a pre-designated landing point sized 30×30 meters, where it is retrieved by a parachute. Merlin is capable of operating with three types of payloads – daylight TV with an x10 zoom, day/night payload operating an uncooled IR camera, derived from the Felin PROGRAM, and a ECCMOS-IL day/night camera which was also selected for FELIN. The datalink used by Merlin operates at a range of 7 km, at a frequency of 5 GHz.
Deep Dive – Oreshnik IRBM
Tamir Eshel - 0
Multiple sources reported today on Russia's use of a new medium-range ballistic missile, the Oreshnik, based on the existing RS-26 Rubezh. The Oreshnik, described as experimental and hypersonic, was used in a strike on...
Defense Update Weekly News Summary
Tamir Eshel - 0
Welcome to the latest episode of Defense-Update News Summary! In this episode, we dive into this week’s developments in defense technology, military acquisitions, and strategic partnerships worldwide.
Some of this week's highlights include:
Elbit Systems...
Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle Program Launches as Part of Rafale F5 Standard
The French Ministry of Armed Forces has officially launched the Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) program as part of the Rafale F5 standard development. This event marks the beginning of a new era in...
Air Defense & C-UAS Innovations at the AUSA 2024 Exhibition
Tamir Eshel - 0
Army Air Defense Undergoes Significant Modernization to Counter Drone Threats
The U.S. Army's air defense branch has experienced its most substantial modernization and growth in over four decades, primarily driven by the need to counter...
Elbit Systems Address US Army Artillery Modernization with Sigma 155×52 Wheeled Howitzer
Tamir Eshel - 0
Elbit Systems of America showcases the Sigma Next Generation Howitzer at AUSA 2024, where competing systems from Sweden, South Korea, France, and Germany are likely to be presented, some in models, others in full...
Defense-Update Weekly News Summary
Tamir Eshel - 0
Welcome to the latest episode of Defense-Update News Summary! In this episode, we dive into this week’s developments in defense technology, military acquisitions, and strategic partnerships worldwide.
Some of this week's highlights include:
Elbit Systems...
Israel Revamps Aerial Bomb Production
Elbit Systems has signed a 1.5-billion-shekel (approximately $400 million) contract with Israel's Ministry of Defense to establish an aerial bomb manufacturing bombs for the Israeli Air Force. In the past, the government-owned IMI operated...