Cyberflight displayed four different mini UAVs at Eurosatory. The Bushmaster was delivered to the Royal Marines, for operational testing. It was successfully tested in mountainous terrain, at altitudes above 15,000 feet. According to Cyberflight, performance can be extended to 18,000 feet with minor modifications to the engine. Bushmaster weighs 2 kg on takeoff, and is manually launched for its mission. It is equipped a fuselage mounted color TV camera, fitted with an X10 optical zoom and a fixed focal length (x4 digital) wing mounted low-light level TV camera. Mission endurance is 1.5 hours and operating range: 5 miles at a height of 1,000 – 2,000 feet above the ground. Operating speed is between 70 maximum and 15 knots minimum speed. Bushmaster is equipped with four communications links for TV and navigation transmissions. It has manual or automatic piloting modes and an autonomous “back home” GPS based retrieval mode, if communications fail.
Countering the UAS Threat
Tamir Eshel - 0
The ongoing wars in Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and the Middle East have emphasized drones as a new and rapidly changing tool of warfare. First manifested in the US war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the...
Iron Swords War – Air Defense Challenge
Tamir Eshel - 0
Unlike the land campaign in Gaza that involved mostly ground forces on both sides, most activities on other fronts were conducted in the aerial domain, which tasked Israeli air defense forces to spread out their assets, learn to adapt and improve under fire, and engage different threats, the new techniques, and tactics developed by the enemy. This article outlines Israel's current and evolving air and missile defense capabilities in retrospect of the recent events.
The Evolving Role of Military Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)
Tamir Eshel - 0
Recent combat operations have demonstrated the profound influence of unmanned aerial vehicles on recent warfare. This article highlights the new roles and utilization of UAS in ISR, logistics and attack, leveraging hybrid designs of VTOL, fixed wing, ICE and electric propulsion.
AFV Situational Awareness in the Urban Battlespace
Tamir Eshel - 0
Armored fighting vehicles face other challenges when operating in urban combat. They are exposed to snipers or anti-tank teams operating from elevated positions on rooftops or accessing underground shafts too close for the crew...
Israel’s Indoor Surveillance and Attack Drones
Tamir Eshel - 0
Operating drones low above ground and in complex terrain represents unique challenges, as most drone controls are limited to line of sight and uninterrupted satellite-based navigation. To endure in a GNSS-contested environment and operate indoors or underground, standard drones would not operate in such conditions. The drone platforms specially designed for subterranean or indoor environments require unique networking, sensing, navigation, and controls to enable such operations. Since these missions are complex and the drones are small, they are used in mission-specific roles such as autonomous mappers, FPV-operated lead elements, and armed effectors.