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Limited wars, limited damage, big potential market

Low-intensity wars, asymmetric wars, urban wars. You can attach a name of your choice, but they all pose a major problem - how to kill the enemy but avoid collateral damage, in this case killing innocent people.

 

Israeli companies have understood that these weapons will be in great demand as limited wars have been the most "popular" ones in recent years.

 

It is not surprising that Elbit Systems, an Israeli company that is not identified as a weapon developer, has taken the initiative.

 

The technology gathered by this company on to how to locate targets and mark them is exactly the basis for the weapons that are required.

 

So what is happening now is that Elbit Systems will soon demonstrate its guided advanced tactical rocket (GATR) to the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

 

According to Yoram Shmuely, joint general manager of the Elbit Systems aerospace division, the GATR is aimed at replacing the Hellfire missile.

 

"It will cost one-third of the price and will be tailored to asymmetric warfare that is the type fought around the world."

 

The Israeli company's senior official said that a deal to sell the GATR "is very close".

 

Shmuely said that the GATR will be easily fitted to combat helicopters currently armed with the Hellfire missile.

 

"It will have an effective range of 8km and with the laser guidance will ensure very precise hits."

 

The GATR is being developed jointly by Elbit Systems and ATK. In 2009, the two companies performed the initial flight tests of the new low-cost missile.

 

GATR is a precision strike weapon that was designed to minimise collateral damage, while providing stand-off deployment against a wide array of target sets.

 

"It is not designed to penetrate a tank but will destroy most other moving targets," Shmuely said.

 

GATR supports lock-on before or after launch as well as autonomous or remote laser designation.

 

The system can be deployed against targets at ranges of 1.5km to more than 8km from fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.

 

It is compatible with existing 2.75"/70mm launcher hardware. GATR will be particularly effective in urban areas or against targets that require a low collateral damage solution.

   

The GATR is interesting but what is more interesting is the fact that this rocket/missile is only one of a new breed that are now under development in Israel.

 

Some will be uncovered in the coming years. Others will stay under heavy curtains of secrecy as they will feature "special capabilities".

 

The tools for the wars that are fought the most are being developed now.

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