Covering the Field: Israel Aerospace Industries Continues to Enter the Land Arena

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) recently unveiled Point Blank, an electro-optical missile that can take-off and land vertically - while being carried, launched and operated by a single soldier. This technology, with the electro-optical capabilities, helps detect and attack short-lived targets with great precision. The new device weighs approximately 6.8 kg and is about one meter long. It can fly at altitudes heights of 50-500 meters, while its maximum speed is around 80 meters per second, and it can hover in the air for the time needed to validate the target and precision before attacking. Recently, a multi-million deal was reached for the sale of the new missile to the US Department of Defense, including an option for further orders.

"In a nutshell, this innovative missile embodies everything we excel at: precision weaponry and tactical missile development, electro-optical systems for validating intelligence information in real time, and responding to the operational needs of a modern army," says Boaz Levy, IAI’s CEO, in a special interview. "We understand both current and future combat needs. This missile answers the need for an independent ability to attack a range of targets with high lethality in real time, and as Israel’s previous Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi noted on many occasions, lethality is the name of the game. Point Blank can be used by a variety of tactical units, from squad to battalion level. According current battle theory, a single soldier with independent and autonomous attack capabilities is an important element in the army ability bank."

Between COVID and new conflicts around the world
Levy noted that IAI is currently at the hub of national and global technological knowledge in the areas of attack missiles, air defense, radars, satellites, remotely manned vehicles, civil aviation, and cyber. The company provides end-to-end solutions for land, air, sea, space, and cyber.

Levy himself is one of the most prominent experts in complex missile and space systems. He has a Bachelor's degree in Aeronautics and Space Engineering and a Master's degree in Systems Engineering, both from Israel’s Technion. Levy joined IAI after completing his undergraduate studies in 1989, he has more than 30 years of service in various positions at IAI. during this time, he was closely involved in many national and international projects, including the Arrow 2 and 3. He also led the launch of several Ofek series satellites for space-observation missions, the launch of the Amos 4 communications satellite, and the signing of an agreement for development of Israel’s national communications satellite, Dror 1. In addition, he also managed the collaboration between IAI and SpaceIL, where the Israeli Beresheet space probe was developed, manufactured, and launched to the moon.

In the two years since he took office, Levy has been navigating a giant ship that employs 15,000 workers in a stormy sea of change. "We are currently dealing, among others, with the consequences of the coronavirus, especially on the labor market, and also with changes in the battlefield, the result of a number of military conflicts around the world”, he emphasizes. "On one hand, the coronavirus has created easier conditions for business interaction. If in the not-too-distant past everything required one-on-one meetings, today it is possible to settle matters by Zoom, and it is easier to gain access to decision-makers. On the other hand, customer demands have changed and their time constants have shrunk. Their expectation today is that we provide everything here and now. When a contract is signed, customers are less interested in long development processes and more in adaptations based on existing knowledge – yet they expect us to supply a product of adequate quality. We are seeing major business changes, and I am glad to say that we are adapting well to the situation. IAI is growing nicely, and business results each year exceed those of the previous year".

"Beside the complex security situation created in Europe, which, most media attention and public opinion is focused, there are today a series of military conflicts in other areas of the world, and we are seeing an increased desire for technological cooperation" – says Levy. "But at the same time, we are also witnessing the positive effects of the Abraham Accords. This is a tremendous revolution. We are seeing a change in regional trends and the desire of countries in the area to cooperate with us on technological issues. We are only at the beginning of the process of building trust with countries with which we previously had no relations with. This process will surely only gain momentum".

The requirement: a unified and continuous intelligence picture
"The current conflicts all over the world provides a glimpse of the future battlefield, which will be quite different from the current one. Today we offer a series of new solutions, both offensive and defensive, on land and sea, air and from space. We based on analysis of the present-day battlefield and reshaping its future image. The technologies we market today, and those still under development - are beyond any imagination. And we work hard to expand the boundaries of imagination from one year to another".

"One thing that stands out today is the need and desire of commanders to receive a continuous intelligence picture. That's includes all relevant arenas and integrating everything into a clear data, one that helps make informed optimal decisions, given the conditions of the battle.

"When I talk about optimal solutions, we must remember how the nature of the military campaign has changed. Current, correct, and accurate real-time intelligence is needed to covers the entire continuum, from space to the sea. This is where our technological advantage is clear. And it isn't enough to provide raw information and make it accessible to the armed forces. AI systems and the algorithms we have developed can help decipher the information automatically and extract insights that assist field commanders or soldiers in making decisions. These systems shorten the operation times, significantly facilitate the analysis of the information and helps saving necessary time that enables the end of the campaign and the restoration of peace quickly."

What is the operative meaning for IAI?
"IAI covers the entire field from development of observation and communication satellites for attack and defense systems to everything in between, so that decision-makers can find the optimum point. We cover the entire field in another sense as well. Since there are similarities between different conflicts, what is developed for one part of the world can be adapted for another, which is why we operate globally with an across-the-board vision. We understand the needs of commanders of naval and land forces to identify threats, create a situational picture, and plan their next campaign. Our developments are thus designed to provide them with the highest-quality intelligence and the means to act vigorously, once a threat has been identified."

Comprehensive “combat suite” for battleships
The practical translation of the war over the entire theater of operations is a wide range of solutions offered by IAI, "from space to sea," as the CEO calls it. "In the area of space, I can say that we are Israel’s space home, developing and manufacturing observation and communication satellites, aiming to increase the resolution of the images received, and to shorten the time between images to generate better-quality intelligence".

"In aviation, we are Israel’s main aviation home, both in the civil and military sectors. IAI is the only entity where an aircraft can be developed, built, and licensed. Very few places have all the necessary engineering capabilities for this and the know-how to perform maintenance. During the corona pandemic, we vigorously entered the field of converting passenger planes into cargo aircraft, a move that also extends the aircraft’s operating lifespan. Our capabilities and knowledge in refurbishing engines and aircraft mean that today this sector accounts for about a quarter of our aviation activity. Huge companies, such as Amazon, are only part of our list of clients in this area. We also produce aircraft parts, including many for the world’s leading fighter planes – the F15, the F16, and F35. Parts built here include wings and internal components. We are proud to be working with the leading military aircraft manufacturers in the world".

"In the marine arena, we aim to develop a comprehensive combat suite for battleships, which will allow both defense and attack, including against distant targets, with radar, navigation, and weapons systems."

We mentioned Point Blank. It seems to me that missiles occupy a significant place in your activity.
"Our activity in this field is broad, including both guided attack and defensive missiles for precision strikes, including at long ranges. We are leaders in ballistic missile defense, with solutions such as Arrow, where the goal is to provide customers with several layers of protection at different altitudes. In air defense, we rely on the development and production of the Barak (Lightning), an anti-ship missile defense system, the best of its kind in the world, alongside a range of different types of missiles designed to provide a variety of defenses against all kinds of aircraft and other airborne vehicles, such as cruise missiles. And we haven't mentioned yet the Harop loitering munition, which has a well-earned reputation for attacking various targets".

Unmanned aerial vehicles are probably the hottest topic today, and will be an important component of future campaigns. Deadly autonomous tools and swarms of drones that communicate with each other are part of the revolutionary vision of the security establishment.
"No doubt: remember that we were the pioneers in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The first drone was developed here, and we have since developed further generations of UAVs, from small to very large, which are charged with collecting accurate intelligence, as part of the need to generate a unified aerial intelligence picture."

Developing breakthrough solutions
IAI sales are currently five billion dollars a year. "Our customers are to be found worldwide and come from all sectors. The challenge involved in such sales volumes is twofold, if not threefold: to preserve the existing workforce, recruit personnel at a time of shortages in the technological workforce, and constantly cultivate innovation"' utters Boaz Levy.

How does a large body like yours cultivate technological entrepreneurship that usually develops in start-up and individual environments?
"First, technological innovation has been part of our DNA for 70 years: as I said, were pioneers in the development of drones, missiles, and intercepting ballistic missiles. I am currently at our innovation center in Tel Aviv, designed for exactly this purpose: to foster employee innovation. We encourage them to bring any glimmer of an idea that may pop up in various situations – at home, in front of the TV, in their immediate social environment – to us, make a proposal, and, if the idea is approved, receive a budget to realize and develop it into a business product. In this way, we give employees a wide leeway to contribute."

It has to do with the human capital aspect. How do you retain technological personnel in a period of shortage, and does the high-tech crisis provide opportunities to recruit high-quality personnel?
"IAI develops devices at the cutting edge of technology, therefore we need high-quality human capital and responsible and skilled employees. We are a good company to work for – ranking seventh in the list of the 100 best companies in Israel. IAI’s workers know that they are developing means that will also help protect their homeland. Despite the crisis in high-tech, demand still exceeds supply, and we face the daily challenge of retaining and nurturing our personnel."

What is your vision? Where do you go from here?
"Our first task is to continue growing, to increase the volume of our sales and profitability. This is a security, economic, and social imperative. IAI’s business activities affect about 50,000 households whether directly or indirectly. Our goal is, therefore, to constantly sign new contracts and increase our backlog of orders. All this must be accomplished with emphasis on quality. Our added value is that we come to the market with unique products and capabilities derived from a broad range of technological capacities and understanding of the world of combat. Our customers know that when they turn to Israel Aerospace Industries, they will get the best product they can get. Made to measure exactly for their needs. We are looking ahead to the long term, because development can take many years and require a combination of expertise in different areas, including an ongoing dialog with commanders in the field. Our desire is to come up with breakthrough solutions and to provide advanced technological answers to the security challenges in Israel and around the world."

In cooperation with Israel Aerospace Industries