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The IDF is the first army in the world to operationally deploy robots to secure the border, gather tactical intelligence, clear roads, and to engage in urban warfare. This, according to Lt. Colonel Leon Altarac, Head of Robotic Section, Ground Force Command’s Technological Division. Lt. Colonel Altarac says the IDF currently applies robots in the Engineering Corps, logistics, and urban warfare. They are designed to save lives and have the enemy encounter robots rather than IDF combat soldiers. The IDF is currently looking into deploying swarms of robots to various missions.
Unmanned systems conference 2014 – Israel
Chris Day from Schiebel showcased the Austrian company’s unmanned helicopter CAMCOPTER S-100, designed to operate from small vessels, assisting ship captains to see afar, observe objects, targets and hostile crafts at sea, and so on. The lightweight UAV copter (200kg) has a dedicated payload whose maximum weight is 50 kg. The CAMCOPTER S-100’s operational range is 200km.
Gideon Shem Tov from Elbit/Elisra develops devices and means to secure UAVs. According to Shem Tov, the greatest challenge nowadays is to cope with ever improving radar systems, which can have a UAV tracked and intercepted. This is why they are currently busy developing protective envelopes for UASs, akin to those which secure combat jets. The problem is miniaturization: an F-16 has self-protection gear weighing 100 kg. But try fitting this into a 10-kg UAV. This poses a major technological challenge.
