Israeli‘s state-run defense contractor, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), announced a new family of electronic warfare systems on Thursday, capable of detecting and disrupting different threats at the same time.
Known as the Scorpius family of weapons, this ‘revolutionary’ system does not send out missiles to disarm drones, ships, radar systems or other missiles, but rather it sends out focused beams that interfere with electromagnetic spectrums.
It disrupts the operation of various systems, including radar, sensors, navigation and data communications.
‘We call it ‘soft protection.’ It’s an offensive weapon that doesn’t send out missiles. It’s not a hard-kill system,’ IAI’s Marketing VP EW Group Gideon Fustick said in an interview with Forbes.
‘And yet it is very effective in engaging and disabling enemy systems.’
With significantly greater receiver sensitivity and transmission power, the system can detect multiple threats from different types simultaneously and from further distances than in the past.
Fustick believes that more warfare will be in the electromagnetic realm, and with Scorpius, Israel is positioned well for the future.
‘More and more of the activity in warfare is going into the electromagnetic domain,’ Fustick added.
‘Planes, missiles, UAVs are all using electromagnetic magnetic means, to sense the environment, to navigate, and to communicate.’
There are are five components as part of the Scorpius system, including Scorpius G, which is used for ground and Scorpius N, used for naval.
Scorpius P is used for air and self protection, while Scorpius J is used for air and standoff jammer.
The last component, known as Scorpius T, is used for training.
IAI first showed off the new Scorpius-T training system in late October.
Fustick believes that more warfare will be in the electromagnetic realm, and with Scorpius, Israel is positioned well for the future.
‘The enemy is trying to use the electromagnetic domain for all these activities,’ he said.
‘We are also trying to use them. And we’re each trying to deny the other side from the use of the electromagnetic domain.’
The new weapon system uses electronically scanned array technology to look at the sky and send out a targeted beam.
In addition to going after targets with beams and not missiles or bullets, it can lower the cost of defense.
‘One of the advantages about electronic or soft defense systems is that the price per activation is virtually zero,’ Fustick said.
‘You don’t run out of ammunition, and there is no question of ‘do I or do I not engage that particular threat.”
The unveiling comes just days after Israel said it was testing a massive reconnaissance balloon over its northern borders with Lebanon.
Dubbed ‘Sky Dew,’ the High Availability Aerostat System (HAAS) resembles a giant blimp or zeppelin, and is equipped with an advanced missile and aircraft detection system.
Sky Dew is fitted with elevated sensors, which are specifically designed to detect ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles and other aerial targets at greater range.
In June, Israel used an ‘airborne laser’ to shoot down a series of drones.
Wouldn’t it be hilarious if a simple mirror ended the threat of this weapon , or better yet , directed the beam right back at the attacker ?
Simple as a compact that most women have in their purse ( right? Real women still have those , right?)