The Defense Ministry and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) inaugurated a technological center on Wednesday dedicated to developing and producing non-GPS navigation systems.
The ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) is in charge of the center.
The IAI said that it will develop and manufacture “highly accurate inertial sensors.” These sensors will enable the production of next-generation navigation systems, and will significantly increase their performance and capabilities.
The IAI and DDR&D said in a statement that the innovative navigation sensor technology is founded on unique Israeli innovation based on years of research and collaboration between the two bodies.
These sensors will be implemented in various operational systems within Israel’s defense systems, thus enabling the Jewish state to maintain its qualitative advantage and to continue addressing the challenges of the modern battlefield.
Brig.-Gen. Yaniv Rotem, chief of research and developments at the directorate, said that, “in launching the new compound, DDR&D demonstrates our position at the forefront of technology and its contribution to Israel’s technological independence.
“The extensive know-how and experience accumulated at DDR&D and Tamam, our partners, allowed us to challenge ourselves with this new endeavor and accomplish something impressive, he said. “The follow-up program is just as challenging, and we plan to work diligently until we prove the new capability in the various applications, and in collaboration with IDF units.”
The new navigation technology center established at Tamam, IAI’s electro-optics and navigation house in the company’s Systems Missiles and Space Group, represents decades of experience in developing navigation systems.
Tamam general manager Avi Elisha said following the inauguration: “Our partnership with the Defense Ministry’s DDR&D dates back many years. We work together to achieve the ongoing enhancement of the innovative navigation systems for Israel.
“The new center we launched will allow highly accurate navigation capabilities with IAI’s unique technologies,” he said. “Only a handful of countries have this technology, which is a game changer in the field of inertial navigation.