Israeli Army Chooses Elbit Hand-Held Targeter

Israeli Army Chooses Elbit Hand-Held Targeter

TEL AVIV: July 30, 2008 - Israeli infantry are slated to become the first operational users of a new, miniaturized targeting system custom-designed by Elbit Systems for close-in combat and urban battles. The Haifa, Israel-based firm announced July 28 that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had selected its MARS hand-held thermal imager and target acquisition system for use by Israeli land warriors. An initial order is expected in the next several weeks, with deliveries to commence by the end of this year, company executives said. Developed by Electro-Optics Elop Ltd., an Elbit subsidiary, MARS is an ultralight, uncooled infrared sensor weighing less than 2 kilograms, including the system's eight-hour rechargeable battery. The hand-held system allows for single-handed location, targeting and killing of close-in targets up to 1 kilometer away, regardless of cloudy, moonless or other environmentally challenging conditions. It incorporates an eye-safe laser rangefinder, digital magnetic compass and Global Positioning System receiver, and features the same image processing circuitry and software algorithms developed for the firm's larger, longer-range Coral system. "We take great pride in supplying the IDF with our advanced systems," said Haim Rousso, Elop general manager. "The unique imager answers the needs of the individual soldier and was developed according to the IDF's requirements, based on the extensive experience and knowledge accumulated at Elop." Adi Dar, Elop's vice president for business development and marketing, said the firm's MARS was selected following a nearly yearlong competition and operational assessment conducted by the IDF's Land Forces Command. "It's a badge of honor to have won this important competition and to have the IDF as our first operational customer," he said. He noted that the short-range, uncooled system was developed for lower-echelon field commanders and special mission squads who must engage enemies with precision, but not from the longer ranges covered by Coral and other cooled targeting sensors. He added that MARS feeds into existing wireless command, control and communications systems.