Focusing on a range systems complementing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) Israel’s weapon systems expert RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems is introducing at the AUVSI 2011 a range of hardware and software systems, supporting UAS missions. Among such systems are the Reccelite and Recce-U reconnaissance pods, optimized for Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) missions, and a new version of the Toplite EO multisensor payload, enhanced with wide area coverage utilizing on-board real-time video processing.
The Enhanced Toplite, equipped with the TIP (Toplite Image processor) has currently being integrated on the Dominator UAV from Aeronautics. RAFAEL and Aeronautics already been selected by a NATO country for installation on helicopters, while the Reccelite and Recce-U pods are being integrated by Aeronautics on the Dominator MALE UAV. Reccelite will be carried underwing while the Recce U will be mounted under the nose. Reccelite has already flown on demonstration flights on the IAI Heron MALE UAV.
RAFAEL and Aeronautics have launched a close cooperation in the field of UAS recently, where the two companies are promoting system solutions combining products from the two companies. Among the target countries of the JV are several Latin American countries, Canada, as well as other nations. Few weeks ago the two companies acquired joint ownership of Israel’s EO Payload house Controp, further expanding the variety of EO sensors for their unmanned systems platforms.
Rafael’s DLV-53 broadband data-link also supports these sensors, while field deployable versions of the Imilite intelligence processing center provide efficient tools for multi-intelligence processing and dissemination. These powerful tools are now made available to users at the lowest tactical level, equipped with the man-portable laptop packed version – Imilite M, configured as a ‘smart mobile video terminal’ packed with datalink and networking communications combining the tactical element employing the mobile device, the ground processing Imilite center and airborne element over a single high speed wireless network based on Rafael’s TACMAX. This combination enables the user to obtain full situational awareness, by grouping multiple support elements toto his aid. Other elements in Rafael’s UAV suite include survivability enhancements, one such option is the deployment of the X-Guard advanced airborne towed decoy systems designed for installation on all types of platforms.
ImiLite M is a standalone system providing a set of tools for mission enhancement, which supports the UAV unit commander or a remote payload operator in carrying out the assigned mission. The Isystem receives video from an analog or a digital source and displays it on the screen along with the payload’s ground footprint. Weighing approximately 4 kg, with 10/100 base-t ethernet USB 2.0 external interface and a touch screen, ImiLite M is crucial for long ISR missions, providing visual and voice alerts, whenever a movement is detected in the image. The system provides high accuracy geo-referencing of the video in real time, and, through the creation of wide-area mosaic based on the video frames captured along the payload’s footprint, it provides a wider FOV for enhanced scene understanding. The system supports both real-time processing and interaction, video enhancement, recording and retrieval of recorded data for further analysis. As such, Imilite center and Imilite M are key components in Rafael’s evolving Wide Area Airborne persistent Surveillance (WAAPS) strategy.
