Elbit Systems to Unveil Two New Systems at Paris Airshow 2017

The company will reveal the SkyStriker – a new fully autonomous loitering munitions system, and the SkEye WAPS – an Airborne Wide-Area Persistent Surveillance Solution

Elbit Systems to Unveil Two New Systems at Paris Airshow 2017

SkEye onboard Hermes 900 (Photo: Elbit Systems)

Elbit Systems will reveal an innovative wide area persistent surveillance solution – SkEye WAPS – at the 2017 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, which will take place next week.

Visual Intelligence (VISINT) gathering was traditionally available in a designated video format. The user could see and record only the area the Electro-Optic (EO) payload was viewing while missing the surrounding area. According to Elbit Systems, SkEye WAPS is designed to change this paradigm by persistently observing and recording a wider area than ever before and offering the system’s users the ability to select real-time or "back in time" video footage within the covered area without being limited to a single segment. The company says that up to ten Regions of Interest (ROI) can be thoroughly analyzed simultaneously using video footage from the recent and previous missions.

Developed specifically to address requirements raised by defense and law enforcement agencies, responding to natural disaster recovery events, terrorism and homeland security threats, SkEye WAPS comprises advanced capabilities in the field of imagery intelligence gathering, providing a complete high-resolution picture and up to 80 square kilometer coverage of the Area of Interest (AOI) to a large number of users.

At the heart of the system is an airborne segment consisting of the EO sensor unit, an advanced image-processing unit, a large mass storage unit and analysis applications. The relevant information is transmitted via an embedded data link from the aircraft to the SkEye, Control and Management Center (SCMC) (fixed or mobile), which can be integrated with the customer’s Command & Control (C2) solution.

SkEye WAPS features an alerting system that allows commanders to be notified of specific/unusual events through a customized alert mechanism.

The solution is already operating in various countries globally, contributing to defense and HLS missions, and is installed on various types of unmanned aircraft vehicles and light aircraft.

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, Elbit Systems’ President & CEO said:  “Elbit Systems’ SkeEye WAPS system is a game changer in homeland security missions, enabling forces to analyze and retrace the steps of terrorists and criminals in an extremely large area, providing them with timely and valuable data in life-threatening situations. In light of recent threats worldwide and particularly in Europe, SkEye WAPS provides meaningful leverage to security organizations in intelligence gathering mission and countering terrorist threats.”

SkyStriker Makes First Public Debut

Publicly showcased for the first time, SkyStriker is a fully autonomous loitering munitions (LM) system capable of long-range precise tactical strikes. According to the company, SkyStriker improves situational awareness and survivability by providing direct-fire aerial precision capabilities to maneuvering troops and special forces. SkyStriker offers quick deployment and ease of operation in the field, providing forces with the ability to observe and identify enemy targets before delivering a rapid precision airstrike. Its remote operation capability allows operators to remain unexposed to detection or enemy fire while guiding the LM to its target.