Tel Aviv: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is continuously upgrading its autonomous combat vehicles, based on the operational experience gained by the Israeli defence forces (IDF). The company has unveiled the REX MK II, the newest unmanned land platform, intended to keep troops out of harm’s way in complex circumstances. The REX MK II, already sold to customers worldwide, is an unmanned land vehicle adapted to a range of ground missions with advanced manoeuvrability and ability to carry load of 1.3 tons. The new hybrid electric platform, all-wheel drive, supports combat forces in gathering intelligence, providing logistical support, and helps execute remote attacks. The system will be presented at the DSEI exhibition in London.
The multi-mission REX MK II is intended to support infantry ground forces in various stages of fighting. This includes providing logistical assistance to troops by carrying munition supplies, critical medical equipment, water, and food, as well as evacuating injured personnel on stretchers. The system can also gather intelligence through a situation-awareness-system that incorporates electro-optical sensors and radar.
The REX MK II also enables conducting attacks by using remotely controlled weapons systems including a 7.62mm machine gun, a 0.50 caliber heavy machine gun, and as a multi-mission multi-purpose platform to support additional missions based on troops needs.
The new REX MK II joins other operational unmanned platforms developed by IAI including the Jaguar, an unmanned land platform for defending borders, gathering intelligence and carrying out attacks; the RobARC, an operational unmanned platform for uncovering and destroying ground level and subterranean explosive devices; the RoBattle – a robotic operational land platform with high manoeuvrability, carrying out complex missions in difficult conditions, quickly and safely; the RobDozer – an unmanned bulldozer intended to carry out complex military engineering in danger zones.
Zvika Yarom, GM Land Division, IAI said: “The need to support ground forces in the field to carry out various missions while minimizing threats to soldiers’ lives is at the heart of our values here at Israel Aerospace Industries. This system is based on harnessing our decades long experience with UAVs, to implement in the world of land vehicles. IAI’s unmanned land platforms are in use operating along Israel’s borders and in different fighting units as well as in other locations around the world. We are experiencing a rise in demand from clients for unmanned land platforms.”
IAI’s Land Division concept is built on three principles: situational awareness, survivability and lethality. With the use of advanced technologies, our systems can recognize threats, employ active and passive defence measures, and supports the “sensor to shooter loops” in real time and in an autonomous manner (pressing the trigger by a soldier). IAI’s ELTA group, Israel’s home of radars and intelligence, is developing ground breaking strategic systems such as mission aircraft, national cyber arrays, unmanned and robotic land platforms, UAV defence, homeland security systems and more.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
