New Delhi: Israel last month deployed in southern Lebanon what is said was the world’s first robotic combat task force. Based on Human-Machine Integration (HMI) formation, it performs complex, high-risk operations up to the battalion and even brigade levels.
Using this technology, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were able to carry out fully robotic combat missions, drastically reducing the risk to Israeli troops. From clearing paths, bridging, to countering IEDs, these missions typically pose high risks but were completed from planning to execution using robotics, while enhancing situational awareness.
Using unmanned systems alongside manned ones in combat is seen as a transformation in warfare.
Boaz Levy, president and CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which has developed the technology, said the company had secured two projects from Israel’s defence establishment: ‘Carmel’ and ‘Standoff-In’ (SOI). Robotic solutions developed by IAI are now in operational use along Israel’s borders and various combat zones in the ongoing war.
Levy said the advanced systems are designed to support missions of manoeuvring forces in various stages of combat, performing advanced tasks such as opening routes for troop advancement, provision of logistical assistance, gathering intelligence information, and the ability to close detection/attack loops using humane remotely-controlled weapons systems.
Speaking to ThePrint, executive vice president of IAI’s northern American affairs Amir Geva said the project was still in development phase and Phase-1 has been completed.
But unlike other countries, Israel tests the systems in real time situations and keeps tweaking based on the feedback.
Geva said the autonomous combat system worked brilliantly and the company is open to jointly working with partner countries like India.
“The technology is platform agnostic. The same technology can be used for any platform. The key is the system that has been developed,” he said.
Interestingly, the IAI also last month unveiled Teaser—an ACLOS (automatic command to line-of-sight) tactical affordable infantry weapon system. It was hailed as the first guided missile in the world using external optical guidance without a homing sensor.
The Teaser missile seeks to revolutionise infantry attacks by providing precise, simple, reliable and cost-effective solutions for the modern battlefield. It can attack ground targets, light structures, lightly armoured vehicles, low-altitude aerial vehicles and moving targets.
The system employs a missile without a homing sensor and instead uses an external guidance system (Teaser-SIGHT) to guide the missile automatically to the target. It can also connect to external sensors for better reliability, versatility and survivability.
It has two modes of operation: shoulder-launched (with sight attached to canister) and remote launched. When shoulder-launched, the entire system is carried by a single soldier.
Also Read: Ongoing hostilities to nobody’s benefit, says India on West Asia after Israeli strikes on Iran