Britannia Radio

"We have not occupied a foreign land; we have not ruled a foreign land; we have liberated the land of our forefathers from foreign occupation." (Maccabees I, Chapter 15, verse 33) Keshet system has improved the precision fire capabilities of IDF combat battalions Date: 18/09/2011, 6:55 PM Author: IDF Website http://www.idf.il/1283-13218-EN/Dover.aspx The IDF is expanding its use of the Keshet mortar system. On Friday (September 16), the Defense Ministry signed a $40 million contract to provide the IDF with more Keshet systems. The Keshet system was first acquired by the IDF in 2007 and is considered to be the most advanced system of its kind in the world. The Keshet system combines 120 mm mortars with state-of-the-art control, navigation and aiming systems. The Keshet system can move autonomously. An IDF Ground Forces official told IDF Website that the Keshet system has dramatically improved the precision fire capabilities of combat battalions. It has increased the speed and accuracy of mortar fire. ============= Please contribute to The Freeman Center's essential educational activities. ======================================== Israel Exporting ‘Green Energy’ UAV The IDF’s “green energy” unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) named the Birdeye runs on electricity and is being purchased by foreign armies. By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu First Publish: Arutz Sheva - 9/19/2011, 1:12 PM 'Birdeye' mini-UAV Israel news photo: IDF website The IDF’s “green energy” unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) named the Birdeye runs on electricity and is being purchased byforeign armies. The Israeli Aerospace Industry (IAI), a main IDF aerial system supplier, has developed the mini-UAV, which is powered by electricity and is designed for reconnaissance missions. It has a range of 20 kilometers (approximately 12 miles). Its mobile battery makes it relatively easy to be recharged in the field. "The operators do not require much training since the UAV is fully automated", explained Alex Greenberg, project representative at the IAI. "The project is very popular, and we have clients from all over the world". Another project, ENFICA-FC, was set up in order to design a short-range, environmentally friendly aircraft, propelled by fuel cells. The project was initiated in cooperation with Italy, Czech Republic, and Britain, and pioneers the idea of using fuel cell technology instead of large amounts of oil. "In order to ‘get our hands dirty' and to learn more about the technology, we've used a Czech, two-seated airplane, powered by fuel cells", explained Tzvi Shavit of the IAI. "We replaced its engine with fuel cells.” The unmanned aircraft's longest flight lasted 40 minutes at 150 KMH.