Industry Interview: Rafael

SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 6 (August)

 

Lova Drori has served as executive vice president marketing, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. since 2006. Drori, who graduated as chemical engineer from the Technion Institute of Engineering in Haifa, served as director of International Marketing at Rafael from 1999-2005.

Q: Tell us about your company.

A: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems offers a broad spectrum of products and capabilities, from underwater, naval, land, air defense systems, space systems. This diversity of technological and operational capabilities enables Rafael to provide clients a range of solutions for locating, identifying and neutralizing threats as well as supplying customized solutions. One of Rafael’s strengths is our dual nature as a large successful international business corporation and as Israel’s R&D defense laboratory, empowering the company to offer an array of technological capabilities.

Rafael’s huge investment in R&D, together with our work force, is fundamental to our success in offering the range of products and technologies that enable us to offer customers both dedicated and custom-made solutions based on the specific requirements determined by various combat scenarios.

Rafael successfully implements the corporate culture of forming partnerships in Israel and worldwide, with governments, with air and space firms, and with leading defense industries. These partnerships provide us with a combination of strength and leverage for the company’s technological know-how and advanced systems.

Rafael operates three divisions to provide solutions for air, naval, land, air forces and space applications. We capitalize on our advanced technologies to develop civilian and commercial applications via Rafael Development Corporation [RDC], a cooperative enterprise with Elron Electronic Industries. RDC has invested in a number of new companies, among them Given Imaging, traded on NASDAQ, which developed a disposable, video camera in a capsule, used to visualize different parts of the GI tract, and Galil Medical, supplying treatments for urological problems.

Q. How does your company contribute to the special operations community?

A: As noted, one of Rafael’s vital strengths is our role as the principal research and development entity of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This, together with the enormous investments in R&D, makes it possible for Rafael to offer our customers—a diversity of armed forces—a wide array of solutions. We work closely with customers, recognizing their requirements and aware of the needs of the people using Rafael’s products. This close involvement enables us to provide our customers with a broad range of capabilities well-suited to handle the threats faced. These same changes and variations in today’s threats and battle scenarios caused Rafael to reassess the subject of air defense. At present, air defense is a central issue in the defense industry. We have succeeded in exploiting our highly advanced capabilities in the area of air-to-air missiles for use in comprehensive defense solutions.

Spyder air defense system, designed to engage and destroy a wide spectrum of threats, incorporates Derby and Python 5 air-to-air missiles. Additionally, Rafael is currently developing, along with Raytheon Company, David’s Sling to defeat short-range ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets and cruise missiles.

Q: Tell us about your products.

A: Currently, Rafael’s key products and product families include:

• The Spike missile family, consisting of electro-optic multi-purpose missiles with a range of 4–25 km, suited for various types of launching from land, air and sea. The Spike family includes missiles that operate in the fire and forget mode as well as having fire, observe and update capability, which allows the operator to follow the target during the missile flight and to then cancel or prevent an unwanted hit on the target. This option is essential, in particular when talking about asymmetric warfare. The proven operational capabilities of the various Spike missiles are the reason why Rafael, with our partners, today supplies the Spike family products to numerous countries.
• Breaching systems are highlighted by Simon door breaching rifle grenade and Matador shoulder launched breaching munitions.
• Active protection systems for tanks and AFVs, including ASPRO-A [Trophy], the first of its type, are part of Rafael’s product family of active, passive and hybrid armor systems, presently in use on the Merkava 4 tanks.
• Remote controlled weapons stations solution for improving the survivability and fire power of various light armored fighting vehicles, a variety of ships and watch towers, using a range of light weapons.
• A broad spectrum of capabilities in the electro-optic sphere for detection, recognition and targeting, with Litening, the airborne navigation pod with precision strike capability, integrated on more than 18 types of combat aircraft.

Q: How is your company positioned for future domestic and foreign investment?

A: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems successfully implements the corporate culture of forming partnerships in Israel and worldwide, both with governments and leading defense industries. The global defense market is in the process of undergoing major changes based on, among other things, the intention of individual countries to develop and produce technologies and defense systems locally.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: Rafael today is thriving, innovative global company, developing and manufacturing defense systems at the leading edge of technology. Rafael operates via international partnerships in a wide range of business areas, and in every sector of activity, brings clients value-added benefits. To offer its combatproven products and technologies, the company relies on its workforce of engineers, developers and production workers, who supply creative solutions that provide customers with the most effective and cost-effective solutions.  ♦

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