Traditionally, like every year, Rafael promoted its latest products during MSPO in Kielce. Some of them were especially important for Rafael, which tries to interest the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MoND).
On a top of Rafael’s “Polish list” is a STUNNER missile, jointly developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Raytheon Missile Systems. According to the producer, STUNNER is effective against a variety of asymmetric short-range tactical ballistic missiles, inexpensive large caliber rockets, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems. It can be “integrated easily into a variety of engagement scenarios that employ established ground-based, sea-based and air-based sensors”.
Why was STUNNER so important for Rafael in Kielce? STUNNER was, among other systems, considered by Poland as a part of planned batteries of medium-range air defense systems. Ultimately, DAVID’s SLING’s STUNNER missile, offered officially in Poland by Israel’s SIBAT export agency, has been removed from the bid due to legal constraints (the United States, which funded DAVID’s SLING air defence system, did not give permission to sell it to Poland due to the fact that the US wants Raytheon to win and also promoted MEADS in the past).
Now Rafael is willing to offer STUNNER as part of Raytheon's offer for the Wisla project. A scale and form of Rafael’s potential involvement is unclear. It is however known that Rafael plans to integrate Stunner into a new generation of system with Raytheon’s PATRIOT PAC-3 improved radars, launchers and engagement control stations. It is believed that STUNNER is significantly less expensive than Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3. If Rafael joins Polish project, it would allow Raytheon to fulfill its promise to that if selected, Poland will be responsible for designing and introducing a new missile, known as LCI (Low Cost Interceptor) which could be based on STUNNER.
Apart from STUNNER, at MSPO 2014 Rafael displayed:
It is worth to remind that in December 2003 Poland signed a contract with Mesko and its parent company Bumar now PHO) for the procurement of SPIKE-LR. Under this contract ZM Mesko has delivered approximately 264 launchers and 2,675 missiles (the missiles are being manufactured under licence in Poland). Poland plans to equip its ROSOMAK wheeled vehicles and helicopters with SPIKE-LR missiles.
On a top of Rafael’s “Polish list” is a STUNNER missile, jointly developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Raytheon Missile Systems. According to the producer, STUNNER is effective against a variety of asymmetric short-range tactical ballistic missiles, inexpensive large caliber rockets, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems. It can be “integrated easily into a variety of engagement scenarios that employ established ground-based, sea-based and air-based sensors”.
Why was STUNNER so important for Rafael in Kielce? STUNNER was, among other systems, considered by Poland as a part of planned batteries of medium-range air defense systems. Ultimately, DAVID’s SLING’s STUNNER missile, offered officially in Poland by Israel’s SIBAT export agency, has been removed from the bid due to legal constraints (the United States, which funded DAVID’s SLING air defence system, did not give permission to sell it to Poland due to the fact that the US wants Raytheon to win and also promoted MEADS in the past).
Now Rafael is willing to offer STUNNER as part of Raytheon's offer for the Wisla project. A scale and form of Rafael’s potential involvement is unclear. It is however known that Rafael plans to integrate Stunner into a new generation of system with Raytheon’s PATRIOT PAC-3 improved radars, launchers and engagement control stations. It is believed that STUNNER is significantly less expensive than Lockheed Martin’s PAC-3. If Rafael joins Polish project, it would allow Raytheon to fulfill its promise to that if selected, Poland will be responsible for designing and introducing a new missile, known as LCI (Low Cost Interceptor) which could be based on STUNNER.
Apart from STUNNER, at MSPO 2014 Rafael displayed:
- TROPHY LV active protection system for light vehicles. Rafael confirmed that is utilises the same superior operating principles as the TROPHY-HV and TROPHY-MV at a fraction of the weight. Rafael said that “TROPHY-LV’s high kill probability against advanced threats, including the most sophisticated shoulder-launched AT rocket propelled grenades, makes it a significant force-multiplier at shorter ranges on the modern battlefield.” The TROPHY-LV’s dimensions are specially designed for easy integration and installation onto smaller platforms without impairing system performance. This ensures 360º protection including the vehicle’s windows and doors with minimal risk of collateral damage. The systems’ average collateral damage is estimated at a <1% chance of a dismounted soldier being injured by Trophy or an incoming threat. TROPHY-LV was displayed outdoors on a Hatehof HURRICANE vehicle.
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| Rafael TROPHY LV on a Hatehof HURRICANE vehicle at MSPO 2014. (Photo: Robert Czulda) |
- SAMSON Dual Remote Weapon Station. It has been adapted to a wide variety of main battle tanks, trucked and wheeled armored personnel carriers and marine craft. The SAMSON Family is offered in six land configurations and two naval configurations (TYPHOON Weapon Stations), including: SAMSON-Mini which can accommodate a variety of armaments including a 5.56mm SAW and LMG, 7.62mm GPMG, and Gatling gun, 12. mm HMG, 14.5mm, 40mm AGL, ATGM launcher, ASM, fed by high-capacity magazines; SAMSON Dual developed originally to carry a 25-30mm lightweight weapon as main armament and 7.62mm secondary weapon for short range engagement but can also incorporate an ATGM launcher; SAMSON 3 mm Mk II with ATGM launchers, ASM, and SGL obscurants. The newest addition to the SAMSON RWS family is its Non-Lethal (NL) capability which bases its response on all human biological senses. Whether employed for crowd control or other urban scenarios, the SAMSON NL capability provides the symmetrical response required to alleviate potentially explosive situations. SAMSON NL concept is based on a five-sense response and the dual use of the RWS; interchangeable for NL and L use. SAMSON RWS is deployed in over 25 countries.
- Global Link. It is a tactical wideband communication system for C4I applications.
- MatchGuide. It is a real-time, precision targeting & global orientation system. It allows accurate designation exchange between remote video sources in real time. In addition, the system enables coordinate extraction of a selected video pixel or marking of known coordinates on a live video in real time.
- IMILITE. It is a multi-source, multi-task imagery intelligence exploitation system. IMILITE capabilities include collection and exploitation of E/O, IR, SAR, GMTI and video data in various formats for both real-time and in-depth analysis. The system further combines non-imager GIS data layers, such as targets, threats, COMINT detection and mission status.
- TOPLITE. Electro-optical surveillance, observation & targeting System. It is based a 60kg, 40cm diameter stabilized sensor head with four-axis gimbals and a single-line replaceable unit. In the baseline configuration the prime sensors are a thermal imager, a TV camera, laser range-finder, laser marker and laser designator (optional). The system features manual or auto-tracking of targets, target range measurement and precise gun direction. The system can be used with Ethernet, MIL STD 1553 or RS-422 standard electronic interfaces and with RS-170 and CCIR video standard ones.
- The SPIKE Family consists of missiles suited It can be used at land, air and naval platforms. It has a tandem warhead and electro-optic CCD and IIR sensors for day/night all-weather operation. Several version exists: SPIKE NLOS (an electro-optically, Non-Line-Of-Sight guided multipurpose missile for ranges of up to 25 km), SPIKE-ER (an extended-range of up to 8 km, multi-purpose anti-armor missile with a day and night seeker, tandem warhead, and two modes: Fire and Forget or Fire and Observe and Update); SPIKE-MR and SPIKE-LR (lighweight, 4th generation, man-portable missile system for infantry, special forces and combat vehicles).
It is worth to remind that in December 2003 Poland signed a contract with Mesko and its parent company Bumar now PHO) for the procurement of SPIKE-LR. Under this contract ZM Mesko has delivered approximately 264 launchers and 2,675 missiles (the missiles are being manufactured under licence in Poland). Poland plans to equip its ROSOMAK wheeled vehicles and helicopters with SPIKE-LR missiles.
Robert Czulda