units targeting data for effective
strikes. The sensors will not be exclu-
sive to one unit or service but meshed
with others over a combat network,
integrating feeds to deliver greater
situational awareness.
For example, as an enemy launches
a rocket attack, the launch site is in-
stantly detected by radar. But detec-
tion is too late, as the enemy, in “shoot
and scoot” mode, is no longer at the
site. Relying on historic data showing
movement or electronic activity at the
launch site over recent hours or days,
the enemy could be backtracked to re-
veal its base of origin.
Further investigation can provide
hints of other launch sites for targeting.
In the past year the IDF fielded a num-
ber of Israeli-made tactical ground-based radars, and systems such as
Black Granite, from Israel Aerospace
Industries, which integrates multiple
sensors on one platform to provide a
fused situational picture at the battal-
ion level and below.
By 2025 these capabilities are expect-
ed to be improved and integrated into
single, multi-sensor devices. By merging
visual, thermal, radar, acoustic or seis-
mic feeds into a common base, a clear
situational picture will appear.
New combat vehicles will be built
for high-level integration of sensors,
weapons and countermeasures. This
concept is implemented in the Mer-
kava Mk4 main battle tank and its
derivative Namer armored infantry
fighting vehicle. The IDF plans to aug-ment these heavy vehicles with one
that is lighter and more versatile, de-
veloped under Project Rakiya. Likely
to be a wheeled platform, the Rakiya
is expected to weigh 35 tons—about
half that of a Merkava or Namer. It
will be configured in versions for
missions supported by obsolete plat-
forms such as the U.S. M-113 armored
personnel carrier and M60 armored
vehicle launch bridge, and the Puma
and Achzarit tracked vehicles, based,
respectively, on the British Centurion
and Russian T-55 chassis.Rakiya will likely be hybrid-electric-
powered, enabling quiet movement in
the battlefield and increased electrical
supply to support onboard electronic
systems. This capability means the ve-
hicle can perform extended missions
without refueling.
To sustain prolonged operations in
urban terrain, Rakiya will be equipped
with firepower for self-defense and fire
support. Rakiya is likely to employ
weapon systems that also supportclose urban combat. Other attributes
are high mobility and advanced protec-
tion. Part of the weight saving could be
achieved by implementing the proven
Active Protection System (APS) and
battle management systems.
APS dramatically increases vehicle
survivability and mobility, while reduc-
ing armor weight. Moreover, sensors
supporting APS provide situational
awareness and threat location, enabling
a crew to rapidly engage threats as they
become visible or open fire. When net-
worked, these sensors should be a force
multiplier, providing protection and
countermeasures for vehicles or dis-
mounted forces without such systems.
Today’s warfighter is overloaded
with systems and sensors. Deployed
on a 72-hr. mission, a soldier carries
up to 70 batteries weighing 7 kg (15.4
lb.) on average, and representing 20%
of a combat load. Col. Assaf Shatzkin,
head of the networked combat branch,
says a warfighter’s future combat suite
should provide a wearable, centralized
power supply that sustains missions
with less weight and better
comfort. Moreover, the sys-
tem should enable power
sharing, power harvesting
and generate some power
rather than rely exclusively
on stored energy.
Another new soldier sys-
tem will be a common user
interface, comprise a wear-
able display integrated into
the ballistic-protection
eyepiece used now. These
“smart glasses” will have
integral day (camera) and
night (thermal) visibility,
and link wirelessly to a
weapon sight, navigation
and communication sys-
tems, and observation and target-
acquisition devices. Feeding from
the central power source worn by
the soldier, these devices will become
smaller, lighter and will consume less
power.
“In 2025, when our soldiers enter a
firefight or acquire targets, they won’t
rely only on rifles and light machine
guns but will have the entire firepow-
er of the IDF to support them,” Zel-
linger says. cDEFENSE ANALYSISDTI10 MARCH 30 -APRIL 12, 2015 AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL AviationWeek.com/dtiIsrael will replace the T-55-based
Achzarit tracked armored person-
nel carrier with a future wheeled
vehicle and the Namer vehicle.Black Granite from IAI integrates
multiple sensors in one platform
to provide a situational picture for
battalion levels and below.ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES
ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES