Israel
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that the U.S. would defer to the Israeli government over whether to annex parts of the West Bank. Washington would only provide feedback on the plan in private conversations with the new unity government in the Jewish state.
The Israeli military has converted a special IDF lab for identifying the remains of fallen soldiers to process hundreds of Covid-19 test samples every day.
Israeli Technology
Defense contractors in Israel that use advanced thermal sensors for weapons systems have begun making prototypes to test people’s temperatures for Covid-19. Matan Melamed, CEO of Iron Drone, says that technology developed for detecting the heat signatures has been applied to a new healthcare solution called ThermoGate. Meanwhile, Rafael has also developed its own in-person temperature sensor already in use at multiple hospitals in the country.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Elbit have developed new systems based on radar and camera sensors to take a patient’s vital signs remotely. Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development indicated the program will allow medical professionals to examine Covid-19 patients while reducing the risk infection from interacting in close proximity.
IAI has begun testing a new short-wavelength ultraviolet system for cleaning the inside of the aircraft. Originally used to purify water, engineers attached a series of UV-C bulbs to a robot to create an autonomous vehicle to maneuver through the narrow walkways of a commercial airliner. IAI says the system will even purify the exteriors of soft fabrics.
Foreign Military Sales
Rafael will deliver two Iron Dome batteries to the U.S. Army’s Air and Missile Defense Cross-Functional Team (CFT) by the end of this year. The weapons system could be deployed in combat areas to protect U.S. soldiers as early as 2021.
Under a new Memorandum of Understanding between Rafael and Polish firm PCO, a new manufacturing facility will be established in Poland to produce Toplite Electro-optical systems. As part of the agreement, the Polish military will install Toplite multi-sensor payload on aging Mi-24 helicopters and well as producing them for other Rafael clients.
The Swiss government awarded Elbit a $15 million contract for undisclosed command and control systems for Switzerland’s Tactical Reconnaissance System (TASYS) armed forces unit.
Elbit will supply the air force of an unnamed Asian country with electronic warfare systems worth $103 million. The work will be carried out over three years and will include logistical support and installation into helicopters.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) certified IAI’s cargo conversion program for Boeing 737-700 and 737-800s aircraft as the company completed delivery on the first two retrofitted planes.
