Rafael Unveils Unique SAR Feature

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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is unveiling it has upgraded its fifth generation Litening and Reccelite systems, effectively transforming them from traditional EO pods into EO+, with the addition of a unique SAR feature and the optional application of additional EO+ features, such as (EW, Comm, IRST). This constitutes a revolutionary quantum leap in all-weather, stand-off targeting and reconnaissance pods.

Litening + SAR – Rafael teamed with ELTA to equip Litening with a powerful SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar), adding significant capabilities to the Litenings’s EO, multi-spectral, stand-off pod, significantly expanded wide area coverage and true day/night, all-weather operation. This first-ever addition of SAR to an EO pod solves the EO challenge of target identification when flying above clouds.

Reccelite + SAR – This is one of Rafael’s latest game-changers, with the addition of ELTA’s powerful SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) to the, stand-off Reccelite ISR pod. Overcoming the EO reconnaissance challenge when flying above clouds, the SAR-optimized pod delivers true all-weather, day/night, all-terrain, long-range capabilities, providing a full aerial intelligence picture ‒ with high-resolution images, according to the company’s announcement.

According to Yuval Miller, EVP, Head of Rafael’s C4ISR Systems Division: “The new and unique addition of SAR to the Litening and Reccelite is undoubtedly a quantum leap in the standoff EO pod domain. Rafael has been a pioneer in defense innovation for seven decades, with immense breakthroughs in many areas, which have given an operational advantage to the Israeli Air Force and to numerous other air forces around the world, operating in the most challenging and complex combat arenas. Rafael’s Litening and Reccelite have been instrumental in their successes, and I am confident that the new pods will further enhance their performance and their results.”