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One of the most pressing concerns for the IDF is how to secure the safety and lives of their soldiers while also effectively defending Israel from terrorist actions. The answer? Technology that takes more humans out of the line of fire while also providing better information and intelligence to soldiers behind the lines! The following are just a few of the technical innovations saving lives in Israel right now.
1. The Iron Dome Rocket Defence System
One of the most insidious, and persistent methods Hezbollah has used to attack the people of Israel over the decades has been with rocket attacks. Simple high-explosive munitions casually launched towards Israeli neighbourhoods with no concern of where they land or who they target. Soldier? Military base? Child? School? All the same to the people launching the weapon. And what can be done about it? Once a missile is launched, you can only duck in cover and pray, right?
Not anymore. The Iron Dome system, originally deployed in 2011, has represented a sea change in the IDF's ability to protect the people of Israel. This high-tech missile response system detects hostile launches, locks-on to incoming munitions, and fires a highly accurate, lighting fast missile of it's own to intercept the rocket and detonate it mid-air before it can cause any harm. While missile interdiction systems are not a new idea, the Iron Dome is the first truly successful program of its kind to see practical application.
2. The Trophy Active Tank Defence System
While the Iron Dome defends the country of Isreal, think of the Trophy as its little brother, defending the lives of servicemen in active duty. Much like the Iron Dome, the Trophy is an active rocket interception system, but designed to be mounted on, and defend, armoured vehicles.
How does it work? The Trophy has a 360 degree scanning view that constantly monitors for high-speed, high-heat projectiles approaching in the direction of the vehicle. When one is detected, the system plots the rockets trajectory and launches a canister of ball bearings in it's path. Think of it like shooting clay pigeons with a shotgun, only MUCH faster.
Anti-tank weapons rely upon making contact with a vehicle's armour and punching through with a directed explosion. By detonating the warhead a few feet away from the tank, the explosive force is misdirected and lacks the punch to barely scrape the paint let alone penetrate the armour. Clever stuff.
3. The EyeBall Bot
Sometimes, you need to know what's going on inside a building or over a wall. But, sticking your neck out and taking a peek isn't always the best idea, especially when there could be hostiles with weapons just waiting to take a shot at you! Enter the EyeBall Bot, a portable surveillance device the size of a softball.
The EyeBall Bot is exactly what it sounds like, a miniature camera (and listening) device that can be tossed into a room or problem spot to provide a 360 view of what's going on. The video, both regular and night-vision capable, is wirelessly transferred to a tablet so soldiers can know exactly what's waiting for them behind a door or corner. It's a sci-fi solution for a situation IDF soldiers find themselves in everyday.
4. The Elbit Skylark
Drones are the big thing in defence right now. Hovering high and silent over a battlefield without endangering a pilot, drones have redefined modern conflict over the past decade. However, most drones are still surprisingly big and bulky, more like a small plane than the high-tech gizmo you might imagine.
The Elbit Skylark is the exception. About as large as one of those premium styrofoam model kits you might have played with as a child, the Skylark is designed to be carried by a single person and can be deployed in mere minutes. While it carries no weapons to speak of, the function the Skylark provides is far more essential than just another gun – it provides instantaneous, live video-feed from a sky high perspective wherever and whenever it's needed with three-hours of flight time. This is the kind of rapid information gathering technology that helps the IDF distinguish between Hezbollah fighters setting up a rocket attack, and a couple of kids playing too close to the boarder. In it's way, the Skylark is saving lives and ensuring that force is only used in situations where it is appropriate.
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