Photo report from the first day of the 3rd International Fire Conference, held May 20-22, 2014, at ”Home of the Gunners” in Zikron Ya’akov, Israel. All photos credit: Noam Eshel, Defense-Update.
SOLTAM ATMOS – Wheeled self-propelled 155 mm howitzerThe ATMOS is an autonomous, computerized 155 mm truck mounted howitzer which is rapidly deployed and operable in difficult terrain. The modular ATMOS system is available with a range of qualified in-service trucks and gun calibers.155/52 Cal ATMOSIMI’s EXTRA – Extended Range Artillery Rocket. he Extra rocket was developed by IMI and IAI MLM division as a surface launched guided rocket, capable of attacking fixed or relocatable targets from distances of 160 km, using an aerodynamically guided, roll stabilized rocket.Rafael Unveiled at the exhibition for the first time the IRON BLADE, an autonomous pinpoint artillery rocket system.IRON BLADE is an Electro-Optical pinpoint artillery rocket system. Its Primary operational goal is to provide artillery units a cost-effective, autonomous and immune to GPS jamming, pinpoint lethal hit capability in required, pre-selected angles, especially hard targets (buildings, bunkers etc.) at extended range.The “Black Granite” ISR vehicle provides surface tactical intelligence for a specific area of interest. It delivers detailed land situation awareness for operational combat forces.The system provides persistent surveillance through X-band movement detection radar, and with optional equipment that includes: day and night electro-optical systems, SIGINT, and optical fire-source locators.Maj. Gen. (Res.) Dan Harel, Director-General of Israeli Ministry of Defense visiting the Black-Granite ISR Vehicle.The “Granite” (on the left) and the “Black Granite” can be linked to a central command and control station together with other network centric sensors.IAI’s ‘Harop’, and it’s new Ground Control Station on the back.IAI’s loitering weapon – the HaropIAI is displaying for the first time the Ground control Station (GCS) of the Harop for the first time at the The Third International Fire Conference, held in Zichron-Ya’akov, May 20-21, 2014.Rafael’s HDLite payload carries a 24-megapixel high-definition imaging camera with 17-deg. field of view. By rapidly scanning a wide area at high resolution and from different angles, it provides 3-D images in near-real time. HDLite stores images and mission data on board and operates independently of its platform. This means it can be integrated with mini-UAVs, helicopters, small airplanes and other airborne vehicles, and operated independently at battalion or brigade levels.
Aeronautics Display at the exhibition. Orbiter 2 UAV (on the left) and the Orbiter 3 STUAS.The Orbiter 3 Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) is a compact and lightweight system for military and homeland security missions. The system is designed for field deployment, launched from a catapult and recovered vertically by opening a parachute and an airbag. The Orbiter 3 can perform any ISTAR mission, including target designation. The systems’ enhanced performance makes it equally capable of performing missions of much larger and heavier UAS.IAI Elta Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) ELM-2311The ELM-2311 is a compact, mobile, all in one C-Band radar system. The Radar implementing an advanced 3D actice electronically steered array (AESA).Rafael also unveiled ‘Kestrel’, a reconnaissance hovering system. The Kestrel can fly at a maximum speed of 70 kmh, and hover for 30 minutes. The system’s flight range is 500 meters in an urban area and 2 km in open areas. stay tuned for more info about this system…RADA offers two radar hardware platforms: the Compact Hemispheric Radar (CHR), designed for combat vehicles and short-range protection applications; and the Multi-mission Hemispheric Radar (MHR), designed for force and border protection applications. Both radar platforms demonstrate very high reliability, and offer excellent performance-to-price ratio.Rafael’s SpotLite Family. The SpotLite P (shown here) is a portable electro-optic system carried by two soldiers for day and night detection and location of small arms fire. The system has an investigative unit consisting of a CCD, a LRF, a laser marker and a GPS.Roboteam’s IRIS – Individual Robotic Intelligence System. The ‘IRIS’ is an ultra-light weight, fast deployable, ruggedized hand-carried unmanned system. it is designed to support several units such as SWAT, Military and Law Enforcement. The IRIS can enter small and confined spaces, above or underground, to explore hazardous areas relaying intelligence and reconnaissance information in real time.another big debut happened at Elbit Systems booth, displaying SOLTAM ‘SPEAR’ – Mobile, Fully Autonomous Soft Recoil Mortar System.Maj. Gen. Yoav Har-Even, Head of the IDF Operations Directorate gets his first impression of the SPEAR mortar system.SOLTAM SPEAR’s lightweight, modular design enables high-speed, all-terrain vehicle mobility, as well as helicopter and cargo aircraft transportability – allowing rapid deployment in both close range and Special Forces counterinsurgency operations.Tthe advanced 2nd generation Recoil Mortar System reduces 120mm gun barrel firing recoil loads from 30 to less than 10 tons, enabling adaptability with previously non-installable Light Combat Vehicles (LCVs). Stay tuned for more info…
The British Armed Forces have successfully tested a revolutionary Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW) capable of neutralizing drone swarms at a fraction of conventional defense costs. The system, developed by a UK-based consortium led by Thales, can disable multiple unmanned aerial systems for as little as 10 pence per engagement.
Greece is actively modernizing its military capabilities with two significant procurements. Firstly, the Government Council for Foreign and Defense Affairs, known as KYSEA, has approved the purchase of approximately 590 U.S.-made Switchblade loitering munitions,...
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 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...
The U.S. Army has awarded two contracts totaling $22 million to American Rheinmetall Vehicles, LLC, and HDT Expeditionary Systems, Inc. for developing Small Multipurpose Equipment Transport (S-MET) Increment II prototypes.
The S-MET Increment II builds...
