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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. The
close cooperation and geographical proximity of industry, military
services and R&D authorities all contribute to exceptionally fast and
economical development cycle, from concept through system maturation,
yielding advanced and sophisticated solutions responding exactly to
most critical operational needs.
Defense Update was invited by the Israel
Ministry of Defense and leading defense industries, for a briefing
on the new
developments, which are enabling organic intelligence collection at battalion
and below, improving situational awareness and response, through
comprehensive network centric systems and the use of unmanned and
robotic systems. The briefings also covered other developments improve survivability and
protection of platforms and personnel, through the use of exotic new
materials, including reactive and
active armor systems, as well as
sophisticated countermeasures, combating Improvised Explosive Devices
(IEDs) and short range anti-armor threats.
These briefings were organized as part of our
preparation for the biannual
Eurosatory show.
This show provides a unique platform displaying the most
up-to-date military systems. Israel's defense industries have backed
this show since its beginning, and 2006 will mark one of the peaks of
Israeli participation here, with 42 official booths of Israeli
companies, in addition to many more products, displayed here by
foreign partners.
Some of the hottest topics covered by the Israelis are asymmetric
warfare, intelligence, command and control, and systems developed to
augment and support the infantry warrior, Special Forces and
counter-terror units. Unmanned systems made in Israel have a
significant influence on the new trends of C4ISR. Force protection and
survivability is another focus of the Israeli presentation, where
companies offer advanced lightweight armor concepts, for personnel,
vehicles and active protection systems for vehicles to counter various
improvised explosive devices (IED) and other elements required to
safeguard military operations in hostile environment. In the armor
arena, Israeli companies are displaying advanced concepts enabling
fighting "buttoned-up" under armor protection. New types of ammunition
are available for tanks, artillery, mortars and rockets completing the
range of military options available for the land forces in the 21
century, highlighting high precision and long range capabilities. The
close cooperation and geographical proximity of industry, military
services and R&D authorities all contribute to exceptionally fast and
economical development cycle, from concept through system maturation,
yielding advanced and sophisticated solutions that respond exactly to
most critical operational needs.
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