By David Oliver
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has displayed its Python-5, a fifth generation air-to-air missile that provides the pilot engaging an enemy aircraft with a full sphere launch capability. The missile can be launched from very short to beyond-visual ranges with greater kill probability, excellent resistance to countermeasures, irrespective of evasive target manoeuvres or deployment of countermeasures.
The Python-5, along with Derby is used in Rafael’s Surface-To-Air Python and i-DERBY (Spyder), a quick reaction, low level surface-to-air missile system designed to counter attacks by aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and precision guided munitions. The system provides effective protection of valuable assets, as well as first-class defence for forces located in the combat area. The Spyder has been deployed by Singapore as a short-range air defence system.
Rafael’s Stunner Skyceptor is an advanced multi-mission interceptor designed for plug and play insertion into fielded air and missile defense systems. Affordable, light-weight, technologies provide a significantly lower cost per kill than other hit-to-kill interceptors.
Stunner’s compatibility with established canister and rail launchers offers maximum operational and deployment flexibility. its concept of operation requires minimal cueing from sensor resources to ensure optimum rate of fire even during saturation attacks. Stunner’s modern design fits the future net-centric command and control (C2) architectures.
Rafael has also developed Iron Dome, the world’s only dual mission counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) and Very Short Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) system. Iron Dome is designed for quick detection, discrimination and interception of asymmetric threats such as short-range rockets up to 70 km, mortars, and artillery shells, and also serves as a VSHORAD Missile System against traditional Air Defense targets including aircraft, helicopters, UAVs and PGMs.
The system is effective in all weather conditions, including low clouds, rain, dust storms or fog.
Rafael is another manufacturer addressing the Counter-UAV capability. The Drone Dome System is designed to provide effective airspace defense against hostile drones (Micro and Nano UAVs) used by terrorists to perform aerial attacks, collect intelligence, and other intimidating activities. Drone Dome has 360° circular coverage and is designed to detect, track, and neutralise drones using a low-intensity laser beam. It has a very fast response-time, causes minimal collateral interruptions to the surrounding urban environment, with maximum safety to friendly aircraft.
The Drone Dome can be operational under all weather condition, 24 hours a day. The threat is detected and identified by the radar and EO/IR sensors. The data is then combined and correlated and alerts the operator of the hostile UAV. The system initiates either automatic interference operation, as per pre-defined rules in the C4I engine, or manual operation by the operator. When the threat reaches the neutralisation area, the hostile drone is neutralized by activation of directional GNSS and RF Inhibitor/Jammer system, or by activation of a high-power laser.