Israel
The Israel Defense Forces chief signal officer told reporters that a review of a northern command exercise last month proved Israeli military’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4i) infrastructure functioned successfully. The training, which simulated various Hezbollah attacks on Northern Israel, tested the ability of over 25,000 soldiers to perform a unified response using a custom-built network of systems.
The IDF opened a new training track for religious women interested in computer science and software engineering. Located in the Cyber Defense Directorate, Marom Yael includes 23 students that will also receive instruction from the Hermelin Academic College of Engineering and Technology in Netanya.
Israeli Military Technology
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) won a tender to provide intelligent artillery fuses to the Israeli Army for an undisclosed cost. Artillery units can mount TopGun fuses to 155mm shells, allowing the projectile to adjust its direction in flight to hit a specified target. The fuses comprise a specialized design that will protect electronics components during firing.
IAI demonstrated the capabilities of a prototype unmanned tactical helicopter that can evacuate wounded soldiers or transport supplies to isolated units. Air Hopper can carry a payload up to almost 400 pounds and fly continuously for two hours.
Foreign Military Sales
IAI signed a maintenance agreement to provide aircraft technical services and support for Wizz Air, a low-cost Hungarian airlines. The work will be done at IAI Ben Gurion Airport facility.
The Pentagon awarded a $10 million contract to General Dynamics to start trials of the Israeli-made Trophy active protection system (APS) on U.S. M1A2 tanks. The system, which can intercept incoming rockets and RPGs, is already operational on Israeli Merkava 4 tanks.
Elbit will provide Aviator Night Vision Imaging System Head-Up Displays (ANVIS HUD) for the U.S. military in a two-year contract valued at $31.5 million. The helmet mounted display “helps aviators operate effectively and safely during low-light, degraded visual environments,” according to Elbit.
Mexico will buy the Israeli-made Aerostar tactical unmanned aerial system (TUAS) as part of a deal with a military equipment vendor.
Elbit announced that it received separate contracts to provide electronic systems from two unnamed countries totaling $540 million.
Regional Developments
The U.S. State Department approved the possible foreign military sale of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile defense system (THAAD) to Saudi Arabia for $15 billion. Neighboring countries Qatar and the UAE already have exo-atmospheric, hit-to-kill systems made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The sale of THAAD is part of a larger $110 billion arms sales to Saudi Arabia that President Donald Trump signed in May as both sides seek to counter Iranian threats in the region.
Saudi Arabia signaled that it intends to purchase the S-400 surface-to-air missile system after it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Russia earlier this month.
