Pentagon orders small Israeli drones for indoor special operations The Skylord Xtender is already operational with Israeli forces. (Courtesy of Xtend) JERUSALEM The Pentagon has awarded Israeli company Xtend a contract to deliver dozens of small unmanned aerial systems for use indoors and in urban environments by special forces in the Navy, Marine Corps and Army. The U.S. Defense Department ordered the Skylord Xtender in partnership with the Israeli Defense Ministry on behalf of the former’s Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate. Xtend did not provide the value of the contract. The system is one of several drones produced by Xtend, which also makes the Skylord Griffon UAV meant to destroy other drones a capability recently demonstrated at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The system is already operational with Israeli special forces.
How Israel’s missile defense organization is preparing for the threats of the future 1 hour ago An Israeli Iron Dome anti-rocket system, right, and an American Patriot missile defense system are shown during a joint U.S.-Israel military exercise on March 8, 2018. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images) The Israel Missile Defense Organization, a division within the Directorate of Defense Research and Development in Israel’s Ministry of Defense, was established in 1991 in the wake of the Gulf War and the Scud missile threat to Israel. Now, the IMDO is now celebrating 30 years of work. The office coordinates closely with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, a partnership that predates both organizations.
Israeli Air Force Receives AI-Equipped Oron Surveillance Aircraft Our Bureau 489
Oron ISR aircraft
The Israel Air Force received artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Oron surveillance aircraft at its Nevatim base.
The aircraft was developed by the Israel defense ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), the Israel Air Force and the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Intelligence unit s naval arm and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
Oron is equipped with layers of automatic data systems based on advanced algorithms and AI. It is based on the platform of the Gulfstream G550 executive jet with a high aviation performance and low maintenance costs. The aircraft is also fitted with IAI advanced radar as well as advanced intelligence systems with surveillance capabilities that will provide the IDF with unprecedented scope to gather information in real time, in all weather conditions and visibility, the Israel MoD announced Sunday.
IDF to get Iron Sting guided mortar bombs
16 March 2021
by Yaakov Lappin
Elbit’s 120 mm Iron Sting laser and GPS-guided mortar munition is set to enter service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Israeli Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 14 March.
A still from a video shows an Iron Sting mortar round accurately hitting a target during trials. (Israeli Minsitry of Defense)
The MoD released a joint statement from its Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), the IDF Ground Forces, and Elbit Systems that said the munition has successfully completed final trials in southern Israel, marking the end of its development and clearing the path for serial production for the IDF. The IDF Ground Forces Command is leading the integration of Iron Sting with operational units.
We Have the Photos: Israel’s New ‘Iron Sting’ Precision Laser Mortar
Iron Sting is yet one more technology to come out of Elbit and Israel’s wheelhouse of precision future weapons that are transforming the battlefield.
Israel unveiled its new Iron Sting this week, a precision laser and GPS-guided mortar munition. The Directorate of Defense Research and Development in the Ministry of Defense, the Israel Defense Force’s Ground Forces and Elbit Systems revealed the new technology. Elbit System is one of Israel’s three leading defense giants. In the past, it has partnered with Israel’s government on new “artillery of the future” a fully-integrated artillery solution that will be smarter than systems in the past.