Israel’s defense industry continues to develop innovative technologies in the fields of unmanned surveillance and anti-missile protection.



Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is unveiling several new technologies, eagerly sought and purchased by Western armies.



The latest IAI innovation is a solar-powered UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), which it will unveil at an aeronautics show Friday. The UAV runs off solar power and stores the power to continue to operate during night-time operations as well.



IAI has also developed a system called Computerized Fluid Dynamics (CFD) that helps determine the aerodynamics of a plane or UAV.



British Need Israeli UAVs

Globes reported Thursday that British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan may begin using UAVs produced by another Israeli company, Elbit.



Elbit is reportedly negotiating with British Defense contractors for the leasing of Hermes 450 UAVs, for which the British Army units stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq have a great need. The deal is reportedly worth $100 million and is being expedited due to the failure of Britain's current UAVs to operate correctly under the desert conditions of the Middle East.



US Wants Tank-Protection Replicated For Choppers

According to Globes, US Army officials have approached Israel’s Rafael Armament Development Authority with the request that it develop a version of its Trophy Active Protection System for helicopters, in addition to tanks.



The system has proven successful in detonating rockets and missiles shot at tanks before they can impact the vehicle. The US officials hope a version can be designed that would protect helicopters from similar weapons.



Seven US Army helicopters in Iraq have been shot down in the last two months by machine gun and rocket-propelled grenade fire from the ground.