Demand grows for Israeli UAV and anti-missile technologies

New unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and anti-missile technologies developed by Israeli defence industries continue to rustle up demand amongst Western armies.

The Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), an aerospace major, has developed several innovative unmanned surveillance and anti-missile protection technologies over the years. Its latest offering is a solar-powered UAV, which it has unveiled at an aeronautics show this week. The UAV not only runs on solar power, but stores it for nighttime operations as well.

IAI also says that it has developed a system called Computerized Fluid Dynamics (CFD) that helps determine the aerodynamics of a plane or UAV.

Meanwhile, reports in international media this week have said that British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan may soon acquire UAVs produced by another Israeli company, Elbit. According to reports, the company is negotiating for the lease of the Hermes 450, a UAV of the latest generation, for use by British Army units stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Hermes 450 is already deployed with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and has been operational for some time. The Hermes is claimed to have achieved commendable success in anti-terror missions, which, company sources say, has led to follow-on orders from the IDF.

The Hermes meets intelligence requirements of ground forces, by supplying real-time battlefield data around the clock. It also helps in locating enemy targets and adjusting artillery fire. With an endurance time of 20 hours, the Hermes is ideally equipped for the job

The deal with the British forces may be worth up to $100 million for Elbit and is being expedited as British UAVs deployed in the region have reportedly failed to cope with the rigours of operating in the arid and desert conditions of Afghanistan and the Middle East.

In another development, US Army officials have reportedly approached Israel's Rafael Armament Development Authority to develop a version of its Trophy Active Protection System for helicopters. The system, designed to protect tanks, helps by detonating rockets and missiles before they can impact the vehicle. It is the expectation of US defence forces that a similar version could be designed for helicopters.

The request takes on added urgency with the US forces losing helicopters in Iraq to hostile machine gun fire and rocket-propelled grenades at an alarming rate.