New ‘Oron’ surveillance plane can track targets even in poor weather
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has unveiled a state-of-the-art surveillance aircraft equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, marking an important milestone in the field of technology.
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Brig. General Yaniv Rotem, Head of Military Research and Development at the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D) in the Ministry of Defense announced in a press release that DDR&D has led the development of more ‘Oron’ mission systems. then nine years. This mission aircraft is set to provide the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with excellent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, thanks to its sophisticated sensing systems, including an onboard radar system and a wide variety of sensors.
Brig. General Yaniv Rotem emphasized that these systems continuously transmit valuable data to intelligence units. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology facilitates a highly efficient and automated data processing system. The system generates real-time operational intelligence, significantly enhancing the operational effectiveness of the IDF.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has integrated these advanced systems into the Gulfstream G550 aircraft. This integration included sensors and the C4I unit, the IDF’s main technical arm. This effort creates unparalleled intelligence capabilities. As highlighted in IAI’s official press release, the aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and advanced radars, robust data processing, and artificial intelligence capabilities.
Defense industry news outlet Breaking Defense reported that the aircraft, named “Oron”, which translates to “light”, is capable of tracking targets at long distances and operates effectively in various weather and visual conditions. The development of the Oron was a collaborative effort between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Ministry of Defense, the Israel Air Force (IAF), the Israeli Intelligence Corps, and the Israeli Navy.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense proudly hailed the aircraft as “the world’s most advanced aircraft of its kind”. Test flights began this week and once operational, the Oron will be integrated into the 122nd Squadron. The squadron was developed to augment the signals intelligence wing of the IAF among its other responsibilities.
While the 122nd Squadron already operates two modified Gulfstream aircraft, it recognizes the significant capability Oron brings to the table. The Squadron Commander pledged to provide effective training to the crew with the aim of accelerating the timeline to achieve full operational capability.
Brig. Gen. Uri Engelhard (ret.), an Israeli expert in cyber and AI, and a member of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, shared insights with Fox News Digital, highlighting Israel’s strong position in artificial intelligence (AI) development and integration. According to Engelhard, the outcomes achieved through AI integration in Israel have been remarkable.
He emphasized the importance of not only advancing AI technology but also focusing on the development and implementation of AI alongside the enhancement of interfaces among various programs and devices such as sensors. Additionally, the efficient management, preservation, and analysis of extensive datasets are crucial elements.
Engelhard pointed out that it’s not just AI itself but also the utilization of “big data” that stands as the most significant game-changer for operations. The ability to connect AI with extensive databases and a wide range of sensors and hardware results in remarkable achievements and significant resource savings.
Engelhard highlighted current capabilities in the field of AI, stating that today, we have the ability to monitor the communications of large numbers of people at once with minimal human intervention or resource allocation. This includes real-time analysis of content, its source, and recipients, as well as drawing insights from information, including interpretation of coded language, and making recommendations based on this new data.
He emphasized the importance of being at the forefront of AI technology and integration, as virtually every group, including terrorist organizations, is looking for ways to use this technology for various purposes.
However, Engelhardt also warns that the rush to adopt AI can lead to critical errors, especially when common sense is not a factor in decision-making. He noted that while AI’s analyses and recommendations are fundamentally flawed or wrong, based solely on past success, the entity using AI is likely to over-rely on the technology.