On Sunday, August 4, 2019, the Israeli Ministry of Defense has completed field tests with armored vehicle fitted with new combat systems part of the Carmel tank program that could be installed in future combat armored vehicles of Israeli Army.
Armored vehicle fitted with new combat systems part of the Carmel tank program of Israeli Ministry Of Defense. (Picture source Israeli MoD)
The Israeli Ministry of Defense launched the Carmel armored fighting vehicle (AFV) project three years ago under its Weapons Development Administration, known in Hebrew by its acronym Mafat. The goal of the Carmel program is the development of new technology to respond to the new threats and the situation on the future battlefield.
The new Israeli combat vehicles of the Carmel program will be equipped with artificial intelligence, autonomous, and automatic capabilities. It will be compact, agile, effective, survivable, maintainable, and affordable and will be operated by only two combat soldiers. The project is lead by three Israeli defense companies including Elbit Systems, IAI Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Defense, each company was asked to develop its platform from a technology-based concept that would transform existing and future platforms into an advanced vehicle with a cockpit – much like that of a fighter jet – where most of the activities are carried out autonomously (travel, threat detection, target acquisition, as well as defensive and offensive maneuvers).
The Company Rafael has demonstrated a panoramic view system for the crew offering 360-degree situational awareness outside of the vehicle. Inside of the vehicle, the crew can operate a personal touch screen with interfacing ability, dividing up the work of autonomous mission planning, driving and simultaneous operation of all vehicle weapon systems, all of which is based on combat artificial intelligence capabilities and capable of detecting and neutralizing a large number of targets simultaneously.
The Company IAI Israel Aerospace Industries has presented a platform which combines a panoramic display, individual control screens and a control stick similar to the Xbox gaming console’s joystick. The autonomous capabilities in IAI’s combat vehicle are operated by a central, autonomous system that integrates the various components of the platform and helps the human operator in processing information and focusing on critical threats in order to make effective decisions.
The Company Elbit Systems has demonstrated a new type of crew helmet with a display using the IronVision Helmet Mounted Display technology based on the F-35 fighter aircraft helmet allowing the crew to see outside the vehicle and operate the AFV under closed hatches, further enhancing crew survivability.
