In recent years, defense industries around the world have been dealing with two dramatic changes taking place simultaneously. On the one hand, the battlefields in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other regions of the world are providing new lessons every day about the nature of future warfare. On the other hand, the artificial intelligence revolution is driving an unprecedented pace of technological development.
The result is a profound change in the way weapon systems, aircraft, satellites, and defense systems are designed. Whereas in the past the center of gravity lay in the sensors, platforms, and weapon systems themselves, today more and more capabilities are determined by the computer at the heart of the system.
One of the companies operating at the intersection of these two trends is Aitech, an Israeli company that has been active for more than 40 years in ruggedized computing, defense, and space. The company recently won the largest order in its history, worth more than $63 million, to supply mission computers for combat helicopters made by India's HAL.
Decision-Making and Management of Critical Systems
According to Yaron Mund, CEO of Aitech, the company's evolution clearly reflects the transformation taking place across the entire market.
"Aitech is a technology company that has operated in the defense and space markets for more than four decades. The company develops and manufactures AI-ready, rugged embedded computing systems and electronic solutions for mission-critical applications for some of the world's leading companies and organizations in defense, aviation, and space.
"Our systems are installed on a very wide range of platforms — from fighter jets, helicopters, armored vehicles, and missile systems, through unmanned aerial vehicles and intelligence systems, to satellites, spacecraft, and advanced space missions," he adds.
According to Mund, while military computers in the past dealt mainly with system management, navigation, and fire control, today they are required to perform much more complex missions.
"Today, our computers perform image and video processing, fusion of information from multiple sources, execution of artificial intelligence algorithms, cyber, communications, real-time decision-making, and management of critical systems. In many cases, they are effectively the brain of the platform."
Does this correspond with the lessons learned from the battlefields of Ukraine, Gaza, and Iran?
"Yes, absolutely. In general, the main lessons from the battlefields of recent years are clear. The amount of information is growing exponentially, the pace of decision-making is increasing, and the amount of time available to the commander is shrinking. This means that more and more capabilities must move to the operational edge. Customers today are looking for solutions that enable local data processing, faster fire-loop closure, greater autonomy, and the ability to operate even under conditions of communications or GPS disruption. We are seeing growing demand for the ability to make decisions at the point where the information is created, rather than waiting for a remote command center."
From a Product Company to a Solutions Company
When Mund joined Aitech in 2019, the company already enjoyed a strong technological reputation and a high-quality customer base, but it operated mainly as a supplier of ruggedized computing products.
"In recent years, we have led a significant transformation. We expanded our system engineering, program management, and development capabilities, and gradually evolved from a company that sells products into a company that provides complete solutions. Today, we work with customers from the early stages of architecture and system definition, help them solve complex technological challenges, and accompany them throughout the entire life cycle of the program — from the initial concept, through development and qualification, to production and long-term support."
According to him, this transition changes the company's position with its customers. "We are no longer asked only which computer can be installed on the platform. We are asked how the entire system should be designed."
If you had to define Aitech's strengths in the market, what would they be?
"In my view, the company's competitive advantage is not based only on technology. We have an exceptional engineering team with deep knowledge and accumulated experience. We employ about 100 engineers around the world, and many of our employees have been with the company for 10, 15, 20, and even 30 years. This means not only technological knowledge, but also a very deep understanding of the platforms, applications, and operational challenges of our customers.
"Another advantage is that we are highly customer-focused. The ability to understand relatively quickly what the customer truly needs — not only technologically but also operationally — is one of our significant strengths. We know how to take a complex requirement, understand its operational meaning, and build an architecture that provides an accurate response, while maintaining schedules, cost, and a relatively low technological risk.
"Another advantage is the company's global presence. We operate from Israel, the United States, and India. This means that we can provide customers with local development, production, and support when required, while still benefiting from the advantages of a single global company."
I understand that, unlike many companies that operate solely as integrators, Aitech develops and manufactures many of the technological building blocks on which its solutions are based.
"That's right. Over the years, we have developed a wide range of cards, modules, and computing components of our own. This allows us to significantly shorten development times, reduce risks, and offer customized solutions very quickly."
What distinguishes your human capital?
"I'm glad you asked, because I believe the real answer to what distinguishes Aitech is not found in the products but in the people. I think what most distinguishes our employees is their sense of pride and mission. Over the past year, at least seven different Aitech systems that we know of with certainty took an active part in the campaign against Iran and in Iran. Our employees know that the systems they develop and manufacture are not just another technological product. They are part of systems that protect human lives and support national security.
"This sense of purpose is also reflected during complex periods. We saw it again and again during the war. Employees from all sites — in Israel, the United States, and India — mobilized to meet our commitments to customers."
A Vote of Confidence from the Market
According to Gil Botton, the company's Vice President of Business Development, the transformation Aitech has undergone in recent years is also reflected in its business activity.
"In recent years, we have seen significant growth both in the scope of opportunities and in their quality. More and more customers are turning to us at the early stages of the program and are looking for a technological partner, not just a hardware supplier."
Among the company's recent wins are a flight computer for a hypersonic missile for an American customer; several programs in the missile and aviation fields for Israel Aerospace Industries; the mission computers for India's LCH attack helicopter; space projects for Intuitive Machines; and additional programs in the fields of space, intelligence, and defense for customers in the United States, Israel, India, and Europe.
Alongside the new wins, the company is experiencing a period of significant acceleration in existing projects, including Raytheon's NASAMS, programs for Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael, HAL, L3Harris, T&L, and additional customers.
"For us, these wins are first and foremost a vote of confidence by the market and by customers in Aitech's engineering, operational, and business capabilities," says Botton. "But they are also a very great responsibility. Ultimately, our success will not be measured by the project we won, but by the project we delivered on time, at the quality and performance levels we promised."
The AI Edge Revolution
One of the most significant trends in today's modern battlefield is the transition from traditional computing to artificial intelligence systems operating at the operational edge.
"In the past, military computers mainly dealt with sensor management, navigation, and fire control," explains Boris Baer, CTO of Aitech. "Today, customers want to run real-time computer vision, sensor fusion, autonomy, and advanced artificial intelligence algorithms directly on the aircraft, APC, UAV, or satellite. This is a true engineering revolution."
That requires some explanation.
"It is important to remember that the most advanced processors in the world were originally developed for data centers and autonomous vehicles. They were designed to operate in air-conditioned environments and consume very high power. Our challenge is to take that same advanced silicon and operate it inside a completely sealed system, without fans, at temperatures between minus 40 and plus 85 degrees Celsius, under shock, vibration, and extreme environmental conditions. This requires the highest level of integration between electronics, mechanics, thermal management, and software.
"Military engineering once meant building a system that could survive an explosion. Today, the challenge is to build a system that can think like a supercomputer and still survive inside the explosion."
By the way, one of the arenas where this change is especially prominent is the space industry.
"That's right. In the past, most of the information was collected in space and transmitted to the ground for processing. Today, much of the processing needs to be performed directly in orbit. This shift makes it possible to dramatically reduce the required bandwidth, shorten response times, and carry out more complex missions. The challenge is to take the world's most advanced AI technologies and operate them in an environment of radiation, vacuum, and extreme temperatures."
Generating Insights in Real Time
When Aitech's executives are asked what the battlefield will look like in five years, the picture they paint is clear. Swarms of autonomous systems, drones, ground robots, and satellites will operate as a single distributed network, analyze information in real time, and present commanders with a far more accurate situational picture than exists today.
"The goal is not to replace the human being," concludes Yaron Mund, the CEO. "The goal is to enable him to make better decisions, faster, and under more complex conditions. The amount of information will only continue to grow. The ability to understand it and generate insights from it in real time will become one of the central factors determining the outcome of future military and space systems. This is exactly where we are focused, and where we see the future of Aitech."
For more info: https://aitechsystems.com/
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