Category: Releases

Employee Spotlight – Michele Kuepfer Military Family Appreciation Month

Posted on by rz dotlogics

 

Military life imposes unique demands on families that require exceptional courage, resilience, and sacrifice not only for the service members but also for their families. In honor of Military Family Appreciation Month, we would like to highlight one of IAI North America’s key employees, Michele Kuepfer.

Michele has been with IAI North America for five years. Her official title is Office Manager, but she is so much more to our team. Michele works in  IAI North America’s finance department, helps with marketing initiatives, ensures events for the Innovation Center run smoothly, helps with human resources needs, and has been designated the “mom” of the office due to the compassionate way she engages with her coworkers and helps them navigate challenges in their professional and personal lives.

In support of military families worldwide, we asked Michele to discuss her time as a military wife.

Here is what she had to say:

 

Carolyn Joseph: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. I wanted to start off by asking about your journey as a military spouse, about the challenges you faced, and what you learned from those challenges.

 

Michele Kuepfer: Being a military spouse for 15 years was a great honor for me. I have profound respect for our U.S. military and supporting my [now] ex-husband made me proud. Sometimes being alone and raising our [three] kids, one with special needs, with my military member across the world was challenging, but when I decided to marry a Marine, I knew what I was in store for. Being a military spouse gave me a great commitment to our country and the men and women who give up so much for others. I became more independent and found a greater calling in performing volunteer work.

 

Carolyn Joseph: What was it like being home alone with three children while your husband was deployed?

 

Michele Kuepfer: I want to say it was easy, but honestly it wasn’t.  It seemed when my husband was deployed that is when everything went wrong. I experienced a miscarriage, broke my foot twice, lost a child in Sears, and had my car doors malfunction while driving. BUT it was not a horrible experience. My ex and I decided to give up some luxuries in life so I could stay home with our children. I got to watch them grow and become the people they are today. Our son with special needs was able to get specialized care because I was home to take him to multiple appointments a day. We became a well-oiled machine when he was deployed. We missed him greatly, and sometimes we cried, but we made it work for us.

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Joseph: It can be a drain on the families while their loved one is deployed or on training missions, especially if a child needs special attention. What coping strategies did you find most helpful during deployments or extended separations?

 

Michele Kuepfer: Having positive, supportive people around was how I coped during deployments or TAD’s. Knowing I had a village surrounding us, loving my kids and myself always made things easier.

 

Carolyn Joseph: How did military life impact your family dynamics and routines?

 

Michele Kuepfer: Being a military spouse taught me to be more independent, but also to ask for help from others when I needed it. I learned that family wasn’t always related to you but those who were going through the same challenges as you. I’ve always been a giving person, but I think that being a Marine spouse, I learned to give more and to listen better.

 

Carolyn Joseph: Having s support systems sounds critical to making military life work. How did you build and maintain support networks and systems in and out of the military community?

 

Michele Kuepfer: While a military spouse I volunteered with our commands, Relay For Life, and our church. Doing this helped me to create bonds with others in our community. I always felt like I had a home in each new duty station, and I have continued to do this back in the civilian world.

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Joseph: It sounds like you took a very active role in your community. How did you stay engaged with your community while balancing the demands of military life?

 

Michele Kuepfer: I volunteered a lot. It is something I was passionate about, and even became the civilian volunteer of the year for our command in Hawaii two years in a row.

 

Carolyn Joseph: It has been said that modern communication capabilities have changed the way deployed soldiers can communicate with their loved ones back home. How do you think access to video calls and other instant forms of global communication has changed how military families communicate?

 

Michele Kuepfer: This is easy. When I met my husband, we had to rely on letters mostly to communicate. I would occasionally get an email or a monthly phone call, but letters were how we communicated his first deployment. Fast forward to his last deployment and we talked almost daily and sometimes more than once a day. Technology has helped keep families more connected, but I do miss the days of letter writing.

 

Carolyn Joseph: How did you celebrate special occasions when your ex-husband was away?

 

Michele Kuepfer: We celebrated holidays and special occasions basically the same as when he was home. We did send him special boxes, and sometimes we celebrated twice (Once with him gone, and once when he got home).

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Joseph: Did you have any unique family traditions that help maintain a sense of normalcy?

 

Michele Kuepfer: My goal as a mom was to make sure my kids grew up knowing that their dad and I loved them, even when he was far away. So we conquered each day as it came, just like we would do in day to day life.

 

Carolyn Joseph: Are there specific resources or programs that have been particularly beneficial for you and your family?

 

Michele Kuepfer: As a Marine wife, I was involved with our Family Readiness team which provided great command support. The Exceptional Family Member Program was very beneficial in helping me with our special needs child. Of course, our church and the love and support they gave us.

 

Carolyn Joseph: You seemed to be very involved at every duty station you lived. What was your favorite duty station, and why?

 

Michele Kuepfer: This is hard. I can tell you something amazing from everywhere we have been. If I had to pick one, I would say Hawaii. We were lucky to spend 5 years there. I hiked almost daily, started running, formed great lifelong friendships, and re-found my faith. Hawaii was the perfect place for my children and I.

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Joseph: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me about your expansive experience as a Marine wife. As a final question, what advice would you give to someone who has just become or is about to become a military spouse?

 

Michele Kuepfer: Get involved, be patient, and be understanding. Most importantly, have your own identity.

 

 

Israeli Spacecraft Beresheet Launched to the Moon

Posted on by fs dotlogics

Israeli Spacecraft Beresheet Launched to the Moon at 08:45pm EST on February 21, 2019. First data from Beresheet received at 08:23pm EST. The spacecraft’s legs deployed at 08:25pm EST as planned. Mr. Morris Kahn, President of SpaceIL:”The successful launch positions Israel on the map. History has been made. We look forward to an amazing 7-week journey that will mark yet another historic even. We cross our fingers for Beresheet. Thank you to the amazing teams if SpaceIL and IAI. Israel is now on the space map.”

 

Ido Antebi, CEO of the SpaceIL NGO:“We arrived at the launch with a fully tested spacecraft on its way for a highly challenging mission. I am proud of SpaceIL and IAI teams who made this accomplishment possible with professional work, perseverance and collaboration, if everything goes well, the spacecraft will enter a cruising orbit around Earth within an hour from the launch. In the next two months, Beresheet will continue its challenging journey until it lands on the moon.”

 

Nimrod Sheffer, CEO, Israel Aerospace Industries:This Friday morning, SpaceIL and IAI, the partners in the Beresheet project, announced the successful launch of the spacecraft. Initial data was received in the control room in Yehud, the spacecraft’s legs deployed as planned and Beresheet started in-orbit tests while cruising to the moon. After all sub-systems are tests, Beresheet will start its first maneuver and circling the Earth within nine hours.

 

Beresheet’s historic accomplishments?

 

  •  Beresheet is the first spacecraft to land on the moon as a result of a private initiative, rather than a government.
  • Beresheet is the smallest spacecraft by weight.
  • It was developed and constructed at a cost of only $100 million, compared to billions of dollars in similar projects.
  • It will make the longest journey until landing on the moon, 6.5 million kilometers.
  • It will make Israel the first non-superpower nation to soft-land a spacecraft on the moon after Russia (1966), USA (1969), and China 2013).

 

The main challenges in the journey to the moon:

There are five major challenges of the spacecraft’s journey to the moon: Firstly, the launch is fraught with risks in and of itself. Secondly, locating the spacecraft and contacting it over the vast distance to the moon is very intricate. Thirdly, the spacecraft’s durability under extreme conditions in space, complex navigation (without a GPS) etc. Fourthly, the Moon Capture Point, where the spacecraft must switch from Earth’s orbits to orbit the moon. To perform this switch, the spacecraft must reach the right location at the right time and at the right speed and direction so that a braking maneuver will enable the moon’s gravitation to capture it. The final challenge is the most difficult – the landing on the moon.

 

The spacecraft’s journey to the moon – the longest ever:

The spacecraft will orbit the Earth in elliptical orbits and will travel 6.5 million kilometers – the longest distance ever travelled to the moon. During these orbits, the spacecraft will raise its orbit around Earth until it reaches the proximity of the moon. When the spacecraft is in lunar orbit, about 10 days before landing, it will orbit it until the appropriate time and an autonomous landing process will begin. The route will take about two months until the expected landing on April 11, 2019.

 

How did it all start?

Although this is a national and historic achievement, it is based on a private initiative conceived about eight years ago by the three founders of SpaceIL, with two main goals: to land an Israeli spacecraft on the moon and to inspire the younger generation to study science and technology.

 

In hope to fulfil their dream, the young entrepreneurs Yariv Bash, Kfir Damari and Yehonatan Weintraub enrolled in Google Lunar XPRIZE Challenge. The competition ended without a winner in March 2018. However SpaceIL, announced that it would continue working on its mission.

 

The world’s first spacecraft built in a non-governmental mission

Since the establishment of SpaceIL, the task of landing an Israeli spacecraft on the moon has become a national project, but funded by donors, headed by Morris Kahn. This is the lowest-budget spacecraft to ever undertake such a mission. The superpowers who managed to land a spacecraft on the moon have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in government funding.

The development and construction of the spacecraft in such a limited budget is a significant achievement in itself, both for the State of Israel and for the space industry worldwide. If the mission proves successful, it will be a technological breakthrough of an international scale.

 

The significance of the project for the State of Israel

Landing a spacecraft on the moon will bring an extraordinary achievement to the small State of Israel. The project expresses Israel’s technological capabilities and opens many opportunities for it: First of all, it will promote scientific education of the next generation: since its foundation, the NGO met eith over one million students throughout the country. Secondly, it will advance and promote science and research. Thirdly, it would open a new horizon for the Israeli economy thanks to its engineering knowledge and advanced development capabilities. The success of Beresheet is a symbol of Israel’s’ success in these and other fields.

 

The development and construction process

The planning and development process of the spacecraft included intensive work by dozens of engineers, scientists and staff. The development by SpaceIL and IAI started in 2015 and lasted until 2018. The spacecraft, which weighs only 600 kilograms, is considered the smallest to land on the moon. The height of “Beresheet” is 1.5 meters, it is about two meters wide and it carries fuel which is approximately 75 percent of its weight. Its maximum speed will reach 10 km per second (36,000 km / h).

 

The Israeli flag on the moon, the selfie and a scientific mission in conjunction with NASA via Israel Space Agency

Once landed on the moon, the spacecraft carrying the Israeli flag will begin taking photographs of the landing site and a selfie to prove we have indeed landed on the moon. The spacecraft has an important scientific mission to complete: measure the moon’s magnetic field as part of an experiment carried out in collaboration with the Weizmann Institute. NASA is also participating in the mission under an agreement entered with Israel Space Agency. NASA has installed a laser retroreflector on the spacecraft, and will assist in communicating the spacecraft on the moon.

 

The time capsule: a huge database about humanity as it is today

The spacecraft carries a “time capsule” – a huge database of hundreds of digital files ranging from details about the NGO, the spacecraft and the crew of the project, national symbols, cultural items and materials collected from the general public over the years to be placed on the moon by the spacecraft.
The time capsule will remain on the Moon even after the mission is completed. Since the spacecraft is not expected to return to Earth, the information it carries is destined to remain on the moon for an indefinite period, and may be found and distributed by future generations.

 

Packing and transporting the spacecraft to the US launch site

In January 2019, the spacecraft was packed and flown to the US launch site in a complex logistics operation. It was flown in a unique container, which underwent structural and engineering changes to accommodate the sensitive cargo. After arriving at Ben-Gurion Airport, it was loaded onto a temperature-controlled cargo plane. Upon landing in Orlando, FL, USA, the spacecraft was transported by land to the launch site in Florida.

 

IAI’s ELTA Systems Next Generation Drone Guard Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS)

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ELTA Systems, a division and subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has unveiled a new and enhanced configuration of its Drone Guard system which detects, identifies and disrupts the operation of UAS and small drones.  Most recently, the system was offered to the Gatwick Airport Authorities for placement in the airport.  Drone Guard can detect and intercept drones using low level jamming and take-over techniques. Already successfully proven in foiling several drone incursions into closed airspace during the recent G20 summit in Argentina, ELTA’s Drone Guard is globally the most sold anti-drone system for military, homeland security and civilian applications.

 

With hundreds of units already operational across the world, the new modular configuration has added a Communication Intelligence (COMINT) system for more precise detection, classification and identification based on broadcast frequency and unique communication protocol analysis and verification for neutralizing threats. Furthermore, the Drone Guard’s 3D Radars, Electro-Optical (EO), and Jammer systems have all been upgraded with bolstered capabilities.

 

 

IAI’s ELTA Systems Next Generation Drone Guard Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) 2

 

 

The use of commercially available UAS and small drones has increased dramatically over the past few years as these platforms have become a potential threat to sensitive facilities, crowds, high profile individuals and other aircraft, due to their small size, slow velocity, and low altitude flight. Small drones can be further used for hostile applications such as unwanted intelligence gathering, smuggling and even as weapon carriers.

 

ELTA has responded to these challenges with new and enhanced Drone Guard capabilities. In addition to the current radar, EO and jamming capabilities – a hostile threat can now also be detected, classified, identified by means of the enhanced COMINT system. The system can effectively jam or disrupt the drone’s control channel and navigation, by supporting an array of communication protocols that can ‘fend off’ a single drone or even a swarm of drones from the guarded premises.

 

 

IAI’s ELTA Systems Next Generation Drone Guard Counter Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS)

 

 

Yoav Tourgeman, IAI VP and CEO of ELTA, said, “The Drone Guard, with its new addition of COMINT capabilities, is a proven operational system for civilian and military applications that can meet the growing threats of hostile UAS and small drones. ELTA designed the Drone Guard to be modular, so that customers can choose the best combination that meets their operational and budgetary requirements in the most cost-effective manner. We at ELTA are dedicated to continue to develop the Drone Guard system to counter evolving threats and provide maximum security for our customers.”

 

 

 

Israel will lease IAI Heron UAVs to Greece

Posted on by rz dotlogics

First Agreement between the Israel Ministry of Defense and the Hellenic Ministry of National Defense. Defense relations between the State of Israel and Greece have been strengthened: Defense Ministry Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Udi Adam and General Director for Defence Investments and Armament – Lieutenant General (Ret.) Theodoros Lagios (HAF), have signed the first agreement between their respective ministries to lease the Israeli Heron system developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the agreement was signed digitally.

 

As part of the agreement, the Israel Ministry of Defense will lease the Heron system in its maritime configuration to Greece over three years, with an option to purchase the system upon completion of the leasing period. The Heron system, equipped with both day and night activity platforms, maritime patrol radars and satellite communications, offers extended operational endurance in a wide range of scenarios including maritime patrol, marine and land border protection, search and rescue, disaster management and more.

 

The system is operational in the IDF and naval forces around the world and has demonstrated its capabilities in Greece as well.

 

Head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), Brig. Gen. (Res.), Yair Kulas: “The great security relations between Israel and Greece are expanding. We see great importance in the choice made by Greece to equip its forces with an Israeli system, particularly during the global corona crisis. This is a clear expression of confidence in the capabilities and strength of the Israeli defense industry. We hope to sign additional agreements with Greece as well as other European partners, assisting them in addressing security challenges – in times of the corona pandemic and beyond.”

 

Executive VP and General Manager of the Military Aircraft Group of IAI, Moshe Levy: 

“IAI UAVs have seen countless operational successes, with over 1.8 million operational flight hours, and in use by more than fifty partners worldwide. With advanced automation capabilities, the UAVS are equipped with payloads that meet a variety of requirements aligned with the operational scenarios presented. The agreement with Greece is yet another example of the successful leasing model promoted by IAI in many parts of the world. We thank the Ministry of Defense for its ongoing assistance that has led to this cooperation, and we are proud to provide state-of-the-art operational services to our partner, Greece.”

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Announces Launch of U.S. Innovation Center and Unveils Debut Program, IAI CATALYST

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As part of its expanding activities in the United States of America: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Announces Launch of U.S. Innovation Center and Unveils Debut Program, IAI CATALYST

 

Herndon, VA (January 23, 2024): Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announces the launch of its first innovation center in the U.S. and the debut program within it – IAI CATALYST. The innovation center is a groundbreaking initiative of the company alongside the decision to expand its business activities and presence in the U.S.

The American defense market is a leading knowledge-hub for pioneering technological and military infrastructure development regarding the future battlefield. IAI’s new innovation center and the IAI CATALYST program will foster cooperation between IAI and American startup companies while providing them the opportunity to develop technologies alongside our world-renowned experts and partners.

 

Operated by Starburst Aerospace, IAI CATALYST is a unique 5-month business accelerator program, tailored to support emerging startups on their journey to success. The program will focus on several key sectors critical to the future of aerospace innovation including Trusted AI & Autonomy, Quantum Science, Sustainability and Energy Technology, and Space Technology. Selected companies will receive technical and business support and mentorship in addition to financial incentives to accelerate market entry and growth.

 

IAI already operates a highly successful innovation center in Tel-Aviv, Israel, in which the company is developing new and advanced technological capabilities that integrated into existing and future projects. The center encourages a range of technologies in conjunction with open innovation and organic creativity while supporting intra-organizational innovation and cooperation with the entire Israeli ecosystem, including academia, startup companies, and the IAI’s engineers. IAI invests in companies that demonstrate cutting edge advancements in sectors such as space and satellites, sustainability and renewable energy, biotech, autonomous systems, and artificial intelligence.

 

Chairman of IAI’s Board of Directors, Amir Peretz: “As a global company, which sees the United States as not only a major target market in our worldwide business activities, but also as a partner and ally during the current iron swords war and since the establishment of the state of Israel, IAI is acting to increase connections and collaborations between it and American companies, with the aim of encouraging groundbreaking innovation. The innovation center is an important pillar in deepening the relationships between IAI and American technological companies, and of course with government officials and the country’s armed forces.”

 

IAI President and CEO, Boaz Levy: “The innovation that has characterized IAI throughout its seventy-year history now has an important additional platform from which to showcase its capabilities and secure its future, by means of the inauguration of the center in Virginia, which that reflect the company’s strength and is the basis for extensive collaboration in the future. I am confident that through this center we can promote joint business and technological activities for the benefit of both Israel and the United States of America, which continue together to pave the way of partnership through respect, collaboration, and support.”

 

IAI Vice President of North American Affairs, Amir Geva: “The opening of an innovation center in Virginia, reflects the company’s strategy, namely, to work to deepen business and technological activities with our partners in the United States. These ventures demonstrate a combination of the IAI’s rich history with the American defense market alongside joint future initiatives, and their launch is a proactive step to strengthen IAI’s business activities in the U.S.”

 

IAI’s Vice President of Innovation and R&D, Eitan Eshel: “After the international success of IAI’s innovation center in Tel Aviv at the heart of the “Start-Up Nation”, the innovation center we are now establishing in Virginia is another expression of IAI’s commitment to the research and development of innovative technologies, in which hundreds of millions of dollars are invested every year. The uniqueness of the innovation center is embodied in the working model of a startup, providing startups and entrepreneurs from academia, accompanied by experienced engineers from IAI, with a path that leads them to develop unique technologies and demonstrate their capabilities within weeks. Israel Aerospace Industries continues to be at the forefront of technology and provide its customers and the world with products of the future using the most advanced technologies.”

 

IAI North America President and CEO, Stephen Elliott: “We are excited about the opening of this innovation center here in the U.S. It demonstrates IAI’s commitment to promoting cutting-edge technological innovation and opportunities by investing in local U.S. startups. The work we will do there will help create the next generation of leading technology through collaboration with IAI from the very beginning.”

 

Learn more about IAI CATALYST and apply for the program at https://catalyst.iainorthamerica.com

 

For more information, contact: Carolyn Joseph, Marketing and Communications Manager, IAI North America, cjoseph@iaiusa.com, iainorthamerica.com

 

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a world-class aerospace and defense company innovating and delivering state-of-the-art technologies in space, air, land, naval, cyber & homeland security for defense and commercial markets. Combining the “Start-up Nation” spirit of innovation with decades of combat-proven experience, IAI provides customers with tailor-made, cutting-edge solutions to the unique challenges they face including satellites, UAVs, missiles, intelligence solutions, weapon systems, air defense systems, robotic systems, radars, business jets, aerostructures, and more. Established in 1953, IAI is one of Israel’s largest technology employers with offices and R&D centers in Israel and abroad.

 

Starburst Aerospace is an innovation catalyst in the global Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry. Combining three complementary activities—accelerators, consulting, & ventures—they help stakeholders innovate, navigate, and invest in the dynamic ecosystem. Starburst’s leading Flagship Accelerator program helps startups scale their business in aviation, space, and defense with access to one of the largest groups of corporate representatives, government stakeholders, and private venture investors in the world.

IAI Bolsters its Maritime Capabilities

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The global economy depends on the security and seamless flow of maritime transportation. But there are many vulnerable targets: large commercial ports that serve extensive maritime trade, energy infrastructures at sea, and marine transportation lines are exposed to various threats; To address these risks, nations are modernizing their maritime security and naval capabilities by enhancing intelligence and maintaining constant situational awareness and maritime dominance over vast maritime areas.

 

IAI, Israel’s leading Aerospace and Defense company, has a significant maritime portfolio covering a wide range of missions at sea, such as naval warfare, maritime security, power projection, surface, and underwater operations, securing offshore facilities, and protection of coastal areas and critical assets. By offering unique solutions tailored to the operational needs of global markets, IAI considers its maritime activity a key growth driver for the future.

 

IAI’s maritime activity focuses on several aspects: Maritime Situational Awareness (MSA), Offensive and Defensive Weapon Systems, and Autonomous Technologies.

 

MSA is essential for controlling maritime sovereignty and naval operations. It involves creating and sharing the maritime situational picture. As naval forces face increasingly diverse and numerous threats, MSA has become a critical capability. Coastguards and navies’ areas of responsibility have expanded with the declaration of Economic Exclusion Zones (EEZ) that extend hundreds of miles offshore. IAI offers a multi-layered comprehensive solution for these needs, from maritime search, target detection, and simultaneous tracking of thousands of targets to filtering and prioritizing information, alerting and responding to suspicious events, and facilitating accurate decision-making and prompt responses.

 

MSA is generated by a system of systems based entirely on IAI’s proven technologies. Information from satellites, radars, electro-optical and electronic sensors on ships, maritime patrol aircraft, and UAVs, as well as commercial data-based information systems, is streamed to the MSA processing core, creating the situational picture. Advanced computer vision, artificial intelligence, and machine learning techniques process and fuse these information streams, producing a comprehensive, detailed, and updated situational picture sharable among stakeholders. As the world pioneer in Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), IAI offers the advanced maritime Heron UAS equipped with sensors suite of Maritime Patrol Radar (MPR) with Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) capabilities, Signal intelligence, powerful electro-optics, and Automatic Identification System (AIS) for surveillance and patrol missions over littorals and high seas.

 

Such systems must operate efficiently in environments congested and cluttered with objects and overcome interference while constantly monitoring thousands of commercial and civilian vessels. By learning routine activity and focusing on anomalies, the system can more effectively alert, detect and identify threats, prompting closer investigation and response.

 

Successful operations depend on efficient connectivity between naval, land, and airborne assets, manned and unmanned. To achieve this goal, IAI implements OPAL, as a connectivity framework that enables different applications operating on different platforms to share information and functionality to achieve multi-domain operation.

 

 

Weapon systems must also be capable of engaging threats without endangering non- involved vessels. IAI’s loitering missiles prove highly effective weapons for selective actionable response by providing the ability to collect intel and assess the situation a the target, select an impact point, and even abort an attack if the conditions demand such action.

 

MSA also involves wide-area surveillance against air threats to provide air and missile defense for naval vessels and maritime infrastructures. The Barak MX air defense system offers this capability, providing long range, effective, hemispheric air and missile defense for naval and land-based forces. Operational with the Israeli Navy and foreign armies and navies, Barak MX features a high level of connectivity, enabling the system to address complex scenarios and extend coverage to protect vast areas over land and sea at varying heights and distances.

 

IAI also specializes in combat suites for naval and patrol vessels, integrating advanced in-house-developed technologies with highly efficient modern open architecture systems. This approach allows external systems to be integrated into the core system IAI provides and vice versa. Weapon systems and sensors made by IAI can also be integrated into other Combat Management Systems when required for the mission or customer’s request. An example of this integrated combat suite is the Israel Navy Sa’ar 6 corvette. IAI integrated radars, offensive and defensive weapons, and other capabilities on the ship to meet diverse naval requirements while minimizing development risks and maintaining affordability.

 

The company also invests significantly in systems autonomy across air, land, and sea domains, including underwater and surface applications. This investment addresses autonomy technology for platforms and sensors and the user interface development enabling unmanned systems to execute operational missions autonomously. With these technologies, remotely controlled platforms with partial or full autonomy can undertake independent missions and return to base without operator involvement. In the future, such capabilities will be integrated into vessels of all sizes.

 

Adapting to lessons learned from different conflicts, IAI works with industry partners, customers, and navies to prepare to meet the future threats appearing on the horizon. This collaboration allows for a better understanding of developing challenges in the naval arena, meeting new needs, and seizing opportunities for improvement.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE HERE

IAI Selected by Israel’s MoD as Prime Contractor to Develop the Technologies for the Carmel Future Armored Fighting Vehicle

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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been selected by Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMoD) as the prime contractor and integrator for developing the concept and technologies for the future Armored Fighting Vehicle for the IDF – the Carmel.   At the conclusion of a successful live demonstration of a two-man, closed hatch armored fighting vehicle (AFV), IAI was selected by the IMoD to develop the next phase of the Carmel– development and demonstration of technologies for a multidimensional combat team that will enable significant improvement in the system’s maneuverability.

 

 

IAI has developed and proven a combat concept in which an AFV, with closed hatches, is operated by a two-man man crew and can successfully cope with existing and future challenges on the battlefield. This solution is based on automatic and autonomous systems that complement the two-man team, and operate the central subsystems – the vehicles’ mission planning and management, situational awareness, driving and lethality. These capabilities allow the team to define, supervise and interfere only when there is a necessity or need, and enables to cover a wider area of concern while effectively meeting the challenges faced by the maneuvering forces. The system has the ability to locate and destroy time-sensitive targets with small footprints, through quick acquisition and effective engagement of targets.

 

The Carmel concept is groundbreaking on a global scale, and has grabbed the attention of many industries and militaries around the world. The program combines an innovative operational concept with the latest and most advanced state-of-the-art technologies, which provide solutions in the future battlefield based on a small team, and extensive reliance on autonomous capabilities based on artificial intelligence (AI), all while minimizing the risk to human lives in a ground campaign, minimizing collateral damage, and streamlining battle management.

 

IAI President and CEO, Boaz Levy said “We are very proud that the IMoD and the Land Forces Division selected the Carmel solution presented and developed by IAI. The central principles behind the company’s concept of land combat include intelligence gathering and acquisition of targets in the battlefield, conducted autonomously. The Carmel solution, as demonstrated by IAI, brings to the world of land combat the concept of system of systems championed by IAI, and includes a combination of capabilities, systems, groundbreaking innovation and connection to the world of artificial intelligence as an additional strategic capability the IDF can use in the future battlefield. Carmel will enable complex ground operations with less risk to human lives, which will transform ground combat strategy as we know it today.”

 

The central technologies IAI is developing for land maneuvering forces include:

• Command System – the brain, in charge of planning and managing the combat team’s missions autonomously.
• Situational Awareness System – combining advanced capabilities in the areas of radars, SIGINT, and electro-optics, simultaneously locating threats on land, in the air and more that fall within the combat team’s field of interest, classifying targets in real time and quickly and accurately differentiating and prioritizing between friend or foe.
• Lethality System – in charge of classifying and prioritizing targets in real time, by allocating the most appropriate lethal tool for each target from a range of munitions at the combat team’s disposal.
• Mobility System – in charge of planning optimal routes of advancement for each of the vehicles in the combat team during missions.
• Operations System – team members can observe the battlefield in several dimensions, and thus gain a better understanding, and an innovative user interface will enable combat soldiers to receive optimal decisions when they are required to make them.

 

IAI’s ELTA Division is home to Israel’s intelligence and radar systems that develops groundbreaking strategic systems like special-mission aircraft, national cyber arrays, land robotics systems, drone defenses, border patrol defense systems, and more. IAI is a focal point of national and global technological knowhow in the fields of air defense, radars, satellites, unmanned vehicles, civil aviation and cyber.

Video of the Carmel: https://www.jumbomail.me/j/NDKicsDNrk2vPJQ

 

 

IAI to produce F-16 wings for Lockheed Martin

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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has resumed the production of F-16 wings for Lockheed Martin, using the assembly line established in the 1980s. IAI recently reopened the production line following increased worldwide demand for the F-16 Block 70/72. IAI will produce F-16 wings that will be shipped to the F-16 final assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

 

Boaz Levy, IAI’s President & CEO, said, “The many years of cooperation between IAI and Lockheed Martin demonstrate another important milestone. Resuming the production of F-16 wings is a continuation of a decades-long cooperation of manufacturing aerostructures for Lockheed Martin customers. The F-16 assembly line once again joins IAI’s assembly center of excellence for the production of fighter aircraft wings. The center also produces F-35 wings along with T-38 wings for the American defense establishment. IAI stands at the forefront of the civilian and military aviation industries in the world, and will continue being the first address for many global companies.”

 

 

Joshua (Shiki) Shani, Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin Israel, said, “The reopening of the F-16 wings production line in the IAI facilities is an additional important milestone in Lockheed Martin’s long-standing industrial cooperation with the Israeli industries. Now, IAI is producing outer wing boxes for the advanced F-35 and wings for the F-16 fighters, both having new customers in growing numbers, worldwide. So far, Lockheed Martin has initiated and maintained significant long-term economic relationships with the State of Israel and its local industries. The company has invested billions of dollars with Israeli defense and aerospace industries because of the high quality, cutting-edge technology that Israeli industry offers. We are continuously looking to expand our cooperation throughout all our programs.”

 

The F-16 is a strategic and valuable choice for many customers around the world seeking advanced, 4th generation fighter aircraft capabilities, regional and worldwide partnerships, and affordable lifecycle costs. Five nations have chosen the F-16 Block 70/72 for these reasons and more.

IAI’s Aviation Group is a leader in developing and producing advanced composite materials technologies, avionic structures, and assemblies. It offers a dedicated line for making F-35 outer wing boxes and their skins. With these capabilities, the Aviation Group serves the world’s largest aerospace companies, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, major airlines such as Alitalia and WizzAir, and leading shipping companies such as Amazon and DHL.

 

New Management Appointments at IAI Ltd.

Posted on by fs dotlogics

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently announced a series of  executive management appointments. The company’s growth is evidenced by its record-breaking performance over the past two years.  As such, the company seeks to strengthen its executive management to tackle the challenges presented by the ever changing market and to continue the company’s growth.

 

 

 

Guy Bar Lev will be the Executive VP & GM of the Systems, Missiles and Space Group. Bar Lev served as deputy GM of Systems Missiles & Space Group and previously as Operations VP at Eltel. After serving in various commanding roles in the IDF’s Border Protection Division, Bar Lev finished his military services as Chief Intelligence Reconnaissance Officer.

 

 

 

 

Shmuel Kuzi will serve as Executive VP and General Manager of the Aviation Group. Kuzi led the initiative to unite the engines factory, accessories, flight lines, and MRO into a single business entity within the Aviation Group, and served as GM of the unified business line, Bedek-MRO division. In the past, Kuzi served as Executive VP of Central and North America at El Al, as well as Executive VP of Maintenance, Logistics and Engineering. Kuzi joined IAI in 2018, and in his last role in the IDF served as Commander of the Aerial Maintenance Unit.

 

 

 

 

Eitan Eshel has been appointed Executive VP  and Chief Technology Officer. Eshel served as Executive VP of Marketing and Business Development in the Land and Military Manufacturing Division at Elbit. Prior to joining Elbit, Eshel served as Executive VP of Signal Intelligence at Elisra, which followed 18 years in the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) in the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMoD), where he served as head of R&D in his last role.

 

 

 

 

Avi Elisha will be the General Manager of the MBT Missile Division. Elisha served as IAI’s TAMAM Division GM since 2015 and joined IAI in 2013 and served as Manager of Electro-Optics in the TAMAM Division. In his last role in the IDF, Elisha served as Director of Munition Systems in the Technological Division of the IDF Ground Forces.

 

 

 

 

Yehuda (Hodi) Lahav was appointed the Executive VP of Marketing.  Lahav was the Chief Business Officer at NSO, the Director of the Rakia division of IAI’s Military Aircraft Group and a Director of Marketing in the company.  Lahav, a former IDF combat navigator and Colonel in the reserves finished his military career after serving as the Commander of the Ovda Airbase and as IDF’s military attaché in Paris.

IAI and GECAS Begin First Boeing 777-300ERSF Passenger to Freighter Conversion

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Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has begun the structural modification phase in the conversion of the first Boeing 777-300ERSF, in partnership with GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). The beginning of the conversion marks the end of the development process and the start of the structural and systems modification phase. The conversion process will take approximately 130 days, at the end of which the passenger aircraft will be turned into a freighter aircraft.

 

The development process is complicated and highlights IAI engineers’ extensive experience in aviation, with their envisioned goal of creating a cargo conversion aircraft that will have the high quality and capabilities providing clients with the optimal solution. The passenger-to-freighter conversion includes changing the structure, which involves installing a new cargo door, replacing and strengthening the aircraft floor, installing reinforcements near the cargo opening, and modifying electrical systems to enable safe and convenient operation. In addition, the process will include receiving certification for the converted aircraft by the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), among others.

 

Executive VP of the Aviation Group at IAI Yossi Melamed said: “Two years ago, we took our first steps on the courageous journey of the cooperation agreement to convert the B777-300ERSF aircraft. Over the course of these past two years, we have invested thousands of hours coupled with engineering and logistical efforts, in order to reach this moment in accordance with the original schedule. Today, we are beginning the structural modification phase of the conversion. The demand for converting the B777 aircraft is high, and I expect that the open spots for conversions will be quickly filled. Since IAI does not have wide competition in the field of passenger to freight conversions, we expect to receive over 50 aircraft that will undergo conversion. I would like to thank GECAS for believing in IAI’s abilities and vision, and to our suppliers for the support and assistance during this process.”

Over the past few years, there has been an increased demand for cargo jets due to a rise in e-commerce, which has peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically for the B767 model. As of today, all the slots for converting the B767 are filled until 2022. IAI is the leading conversion center for cargo jets, and among its customers are market leaders including as Amazon, DHL, UPS and others.

 

SVP & Manager at GECAS Cargo Rich Greener said: “This milestone represents GECAS’s foresight and dedication to the air cargo market. This is a very well thought out and credible program combining GECAS’s and IAI’s experience in developing a very efficient freighter to meet the current and future air cargo requirements.”

IAI’s Aviation Group, the home of aviation in Israel, unites all aircraft activity piloted by humans: maintenance (MRO), business jets, converting passenger jets to cargo configuration, hangars and aviation arrays, aircraft upgrading and more. With knowledge and accumulated experience in aviation spanning almost 70 years of the company’s existence, excellent human capital and groundbreaking technologies, the group is in line with the world’s leading aviation companies.

 

Video: Beginning the conversion of B777-300ERSF:  https://www.jumbomail.me/j/TTGY2-Nsa0qGDvm