Israeli Firms to Introduce Artificial Intelligence, Stealth in Armored Vehicles

Future armored vehicle technologies including artificial intelligence and stealth capability were unveiled by three Israel firms- Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Elbit and Rafael, on Sunday.

The ministry launched the Carmel armored fighting vehicle (AFV) project three years ago under its Weapons Development Administration.

The technologies were demonstrated on old M-113 AFVs lent to the defense industries by the Israel Defense Force (IDF). Each company demonstrated its capabilities in the sector at a training facility in northern Israel. 

Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure will select a bid by one of the three companies to manufacture these vehicles for the IDF, as well as for export. Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) has stated that it might choose to combine a number of technologies from multiple companies in the AFV.

"All of the solutions displayed by the defense companies were tested in recent weeks under a series of difficult operational scenarios by a special MoD test team," Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure head of research Brig. Gen. Yaniv Rotem, said.

According to Globes report, Elbit’s model used Iron Vision helmets derived from technology used by F-35 pilots to navigate the AFV and engage targets in their direction of vision. The system also includes autonomous driving capabilities using an algorithm that examines the terrain, with early detection and neutralization of threats, such as roadside bombs. It also contains a drone, and a robot rescuer that carries out missions classified as high risk.

"The helmet offered by Elbit systems for the Carmel AFV program will be installed on the new versions of the Merkava Mark 4 tank," Rotem said.

Rafael displayed a concept of a "transparent cockpit" that provides the AFV team with 360-degree peripheral vision of external events. Data relevant to the outline of the AFV team's activity is screened on giant touch screens installed inside the AFV, with no helmet or special vision equipment. A range of unique sensors with electro-optic capabilities relay to the AFV team a picture of the situation outside the vehicle. The system also contains launchers for Spike anti-tank missiles, a smart trigger, a Trophy-type active defense system that protects the vehicle against anti-tank missiles, etc.

IAI unveiled a technological demonstrator based on its family of unmanned robot vehicles. It contains a joystick similar to a compute game that can be used to operate the vehicle on the future battlefield. Th autonomous systems displayed by IAI are controlled by a centralized automated fighting system that filters out information irrelevant to the battlefield mission and makes it possible to focus on critical threats and making urgent decisions.

According to Rotem, the solutions demonstrated by the companies lacked hybrid propulsion for the AFVs, revolutionary active camouflage capability, cyber defense, multi-tasking radar, a system for identifying friendly forces, advanced armor solutions, etc.