The proliferation of man-portable anti-aircraft missiles (also known as MANPADS) with terror organizations and extremists around the world is raising the awareness of these threats, particularly following recent events in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East. With the growing concern, demand for military type countermeasures is increasing, as business jet operator demand the best protection hitherto available only to VVIPs of the wealthiest of nations.

Rafael is extending its Litening family of targeting pods for air forces looking to upgrade existing platforms. Litening 4, the latest variant of the pod, has gone through major enhancements in sensors, resolution, image processing and algorithmic processing capabilities. “Litening has transformed from a targeting pod into a much broader sensor pack that extends the aircraft and pilot’s capabilities, far beyond target acquisition,” says Yuval Miller, manager of Rafael’s Air and C4ISR division.

TEL AVIV — Israel Aerospace Industries soon will deliver its UAS Mission Trainer (UMT) to the Israeli Air Force (IAF), an operator of the IAI-made Heron UAS. IAI has already delivered various UMT versions to foreign customers. The system is not limited to supporting IAI systems; it can be configured to include any type of UAS and payload, and is based on international standards (such as HLA and Stanag 4586). “The system will become an important asset in the UAS squadron,” says Shaul Shahar, general manager of Malat Division.