The ISDEF 2013 exhibition opened yesterday in Tel Aviv is the largest, most impressive defense expo taking place in Israel in recent years. Over 100 exhibitors gathered here, with thousands of visitors attracted by many professional seminars and demonstrations of assault means, weapon systems and CBRNE protective measures. In this brief coverage we highlight Tactical vehicles. Two additional reports cover other themes including: Unmanned Systems & Robotics and C4ISR and small arms.
IAI RAMTA displayed at ISDEF the Tactical Assault Ladder mounted on the RAM2000 MkIII assault armored vehicle. The hydraulically operated ramp eliminates the need for hand carried ladders in most tactical situations, enabling rescuers and tactical assault teams to enter a structure or an aircraft at different level, through multiple entry points at height up to 10 meters. The structure weighs about one ton and has a maximum reach of 10.2 meters in height. The TAL is configured for various tactical vehicles, including the Ford 350, Ford 550, RAM 2000 MkIII and Iveco 4×4.
Another vehicle dealing with riots and public disturbance comes from Beit Alfa Trailers (B.A.T.). Fitted with B.A.T unique Jet Pulse Water Cannon the vehicle can effectively close-in and disperse riots by ‘firing’ short pulses, long pulses and continuous, powerful streams of water, injected with tear gas (CS) or pepper spray (OC) agents, with or without dye coloring, marking rioters during the dispersal actions. This behemoth is also protected against ‘soft’ or ‘hard’ attack, using all-round cameras for situational awareness, ballistic armor, runflat tyres and foam protect against firebombs thrown under chassis or on the upper deck. It also has tear gas nozzles dispersed around the vehicle, deterring rioters attempts to assault the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a front dozer blade for obstacle removal.
Zibar has already been displayed at ISDEF and other exhibitions in the past, but ISDEF 2013 offered the opportunity for RAFAEL to display two of its latest weapon systems mounted on this light, highly manoeuvrable platform.
A ‘non lethal weapon station’ displayed here by RAFAEL (Defense-Update covered this system at the Eurosatory 2012 event). The system represents a new concept for remotely operated station mounting non-lethal weapons. Utilizing a standard Samson Junior weapon station, the NLW kit mounts a modular set of devices providing more levels of flexibility for the tactical commander. The non lethal weapons shown include flash-bang payloads and loudspeakers, rubber balls and tear gas. The NLW kit can be loaded to any ‘Samson Junior’ weapon station, instead of the standard machine gun.
Zibar is a familiar vehicle for Defense-Update readers, as we covered this exciting special ops vehicle in the past. At ISDEF, Off Road Ido Technology unveiled two variants – Zibar Mk 2 and Zibar Mk2 Truck, both powered by a GM 6.2 V8, 430hp engine and automatic transmission. The five seat Zibar Mk2 is designed as a 4.2 ton Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), with a curb weight of 2.7 tons (5,950 lbs) and carries a payload of 1.5 tons. The truck version is designed for 5.6 ton GVW, carrying up to 2.8 tons of payload (6,172 lbs).
The latest Zibar variant that arrived straight from the workshop is the Z-COM an all terrain vehicle designed for special operations. Powered by a Rotax BRP engine, accelerating the Z-COM to an offroad speed of 130 km/h, and range of over 400 km. The vehicle has a curb weight of only 750 kg, meaning it Z-COM can currently carry six fully equipped soldiers plus payload at a total weight of 800 kg. According to Ido Cohen, the vehicle designer and builder, Z-COM will soon be able to increase the payload capacity by more than 50 percent, bringing the vehicle to a two-ton GVW category. What makes this vehicle unique are its small dimensions and flexible deployment. Z-COM is designed with foldable flatbed and forward load surface, and collapsing roll cage, squeezing the fit snugly inside the V-22!. Three can be packed into the cargo bay of a CH-53 helicopter. The vehicle is currently competing for a new US Special Operations Command requirement for V-22 internally transported vehicles (ITV).
Automotive Industries (AIL) brought the latest Storm 3 R-Type versatile reconnaissance vehicle, a powerful 4×4 off-road light intervention vehicle suited for surveillance, base security and rapid offensive actions. The four-seat version is designed to carry modular storage systems, weapon mounts etc. The vehicle uses a collapsing outer tube frame enabling the vehicle to easily transport via air and sea. The vehicle has a GVW of 3.358 tons, of which the payload is 1.058 tons.
Stay tuned for more VideoReports from ISDEF in the coming days!
