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Tamir Eshel and Arie Egozi discuss Middle East defense topics
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Securing the Skies: The Advanced BARAK MX Air Defense System
In this episode, we look at IAI’s cutting-edge air defense system - BARAK MX. This air and missile defense system offers a comprehensive solution for modern air and missile defense challenges, providing scalability, flexibility, growth potential, and interoperability. The system was developed to meet Israel's stringent requirements and is a crucial component of the country's air defense network.
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Israel Becomes a Spy-Satellite Superpower!
The Israeli Ministery of Defense (IMOD) OFEK program (Horizon in Hebrew, often referred to as OFEQ) will be awarded the prestigious 'Israel's Defense Prize for 2022' for the group's achievements that jointly developed, produced, and deployed Israel's most advanced observation satellite – OFEK-16. In this post, we look at the satellite, its high-resolution payload, and the different operators using these unique assets.
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Intelligent Firepower - PITBULL RCWS Adds the Wisdom of AI
Defense-Update takes an exclusive close look at General Robotics's new PITBULL SMART-AI days before its introduction at Eurosatory 2022 next week. This latest version of the PITBULL RCWS is embedded with AI technology enabling armored vehicles and unmanned platforms to substantially improve their situational awareness, response rate, and firepower.
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Switzerland Takes Delivery of the First Hermes 900 Starliner
Switzerland's defense ministry (ArmaSwiss) has announced that the first two Elbit Systems Hermes 900HFE drones have been delivered to Emmen airfield last week. Two ground stations, communications, logistics, and maintenance equipment were also delivered with the drones. The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (D-11 and D-14) have already been assembled and they will undergo a functional check before the first flight tests in mid-year.
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SIG-Sauer to Produce the US Army's Next Generation Close Combat Weapons
Sig Sauer has won a 10-year contract with the U.S. Army with an initial delivery order worth $20.4 million and a ceiling value of $4.7 billion. Under this contract, the company will supply a family of weapons of up to 250,000 rifles and light machine guns. The XM5 Rifle will replace the M4/M4A1 carbine within the close combat force, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle will replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). Having won the handgun contract in 2017, that makes Sig Sauer the premier supplier of small arms providers to the Army's close combat and special operations forces.
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US Army Upgrades Gray Eagle to Support Multi-Domain Operations
General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) began the first installation of factory upgrades to a Gray Eagle-Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System to enhance its capabilities to support Multi-Domain Operations (MDO). The MDO upgrade follows a series of demonstrations that showcased GE-ER’s persistent stand-off survivability with stand-in capabilities and up to 40 hours of endurance. Under the current program, the U.S. Army-funded program includes two aircraft. Flight tests and qualifications will start later this year.