RAFAEL's air and missile defense systems on show at the Paris Air Show 2023 - from right to left: Iron Beam high energy laser, Stunner (David's Sling interceptor), I-Derby-ER (air and tactical missile defense) and Tamir interceptor used by the Iron Dome and C-Dome systems.
New Israeli Weapons on Display at the Paris Airshow
The 54th Paris Air Show international aerospace exhibition provides an important venue for Israel’s aerospace and defense companies featuring new weapons, aerospace systems, space programs, and unmanned systems. All photos credit: Defense Update
IAI – Upper-tier ballistic missile defense
Three missiles designed by IAI for air and missile defense – Arrow 3, Barak 8ER and Barak 8 LRAD. Both Arrow-3 and barak 8ER are designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles.
Exporting Light Rocket Propulsion Systems
Tomer – Israel’s government-owned defense company is participating at the Paris Airshow as part of the company’s marketing campaign seeking to expand its offerings to rocket and missile manufacturers worldwide. Tomer is Israel’s largest manufacturer of light rocket propulsion systems. The company’s products are integrated into IAI’s BARAK MX interceptors, Elbit Systems’ Extra and Accular guided rockets, and the Rampage air-launched guided missile. Photo: IAI
SkySonic – Interceptor of Hypersonic Threats
SkySonic is designed as an interceptor to counter hypersonic threats.
New Air/Air Missiles
Rafael is unveiling a new air/air missile – the SkySpear, at the Paris Airshow.
Elbit Systems – Long-Range Strike
Four types of heavy guided aerial strike weapons from Elbit Systems – from top to bottom: REST with an MPR1000 body, Rampage 300 mm aerial launched missile, Lizzard 4 with an MPR500Â laser-guided bomb, and laser-guided 2.75″ rocket -GATR.
Teaming UAS and Loitering Weapons
Elbit Systems shows a teaming between the Skylark 3 Hybrid drone and Sky Striker loitering weapon. The drone performs extended reconnaissance and intelligence gathering missions, lasting up to 18 hours, with the Sky Striker performing target acquisition and attack based on that reconnaissance.BlueBird UAS are also showing a teaming of UAS and loitering weapons. The team comprises the ThunderB VTOL UAS and new SpyX loitering weapons unveiled at the 2023 Paris Airshow.SpyX can operate on missions lasting 1.5 hours at a range of 50 km from its controller. The weapon is supplied as an inert airframe, loaded with the battery and warhead upon assembly in the field. It is loaded with an anti-personnel high explosive fragmenting or anti-tank warhead. SpyX uses a piloting camera for flying and a miniature EO/IR payload for target acquisition, and a proximity fuse to trigger the HE-FRAG warhead.
Spear UAS – Encapsulated Loitering Weapon
Spear UAS’ Viper is designed as an encapsulated loitering weapon utilizing a quadrotor platform packed into a small launcher used as a ‘wooden round’.Uvision shows a complete system of a Hero 120 loitering weapon, comprising the launcher and missile, control unit, and communications link. These weapons have already been integrated for operation from helicopters, boats, tactical vehicles, and unmanned ground vehicles.
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...
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.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Lockheed Martin are collaborating to provide Net-Enabled Weapons (NEW) capability for GA-ASI’s MQ-9B SeaGuardian Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The addition of NEW capability for SeaGuardian will bolster the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Targeting (ISR&T) capability for the aircraft, enabling the platform to rapidly engage targets based on real-time intelligence collected by its sensors. Such capabilities are already supported by the MQ-9 but were not yet implemented by the MQ-8B SeaGuardian.
BAE Systems’ fourth Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) prototype is being showcased at Eurosatory this week. Configured with a common top plate, also known as the External Mission Equipment Package (ExMEP), the prototype showcases the vehicle’s ability to integrate capabilities and equipment packages internationally. The new turret uses Oshkosh / Rafael MCWS turret selected by the US Army for the Stryker. BAE Systems has also introduced Elbit Systems UT30 gun turret, Patria's Nemo mortar turret and Moog Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform (RIwP) for the CUAS variant.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace teams with German partners Diehl Defence and MBDA Deutschland to develop the Tyrfing, an advanced Super-Sonic Strike Missile (3SM). The new missile is expected to replace the Naval Strike Missile...