MSPO 2025: IAI presents Elli-3312 HunterEye to reshape armored defense against drone threats.

During MSPO 2025 in Kielce, Poland, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) unveiled for the first time in public the Elli-3312 HunterEye, a next-generation target acquisition and cueing system designed for Remote Weapon Stations and Main Battle Tanks. This new system immediately stood out as one of the highlights of the exhibition, offering a response to one of the most pressing challenges in modern warfare: the growing vulnerability of armored vehicles to drone-delivered munitions. The system’s introduction is timely, as militaries worldwide seek solutions that combine mobility, precision, and adaptability on the battlefield.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The presentation of the Elli-3312 HunterEye in Kielce is more than the unveiling of a new sensor system. It signals a transition in armored defense from reactive, passive measures to proactive, integrated solutions that connect seamlessly with wider command and control structures (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The Elli-3312 has been developed by IAI’s Elta Systems division to provide armored forces with an integrated detection and response capability. The system brings together a ground surveillance radar and an embedded electro-optical fire source sensor, enabling it to detect, classify, and track threats in real time. Unlike traditional countermeasures such as the static “Cope Cage” structure used by the Israeli Defense Forces to mitigate top-attack munitions, the Elli-3312 offers a proactive, sensor-driven defense mechanism. Its modularity allows it to be mounted on both light and heavy platforms, ensuring flexibility in deployment.

From an operational perspective, the Elli-3312 represents a step forward in reducing the reaction time between the identification of a threat and the activation of the weapon system. Earlier approaches, relying solely on optical or radar-based detection, often suffered from slow response rates and a high incidence of false alarms. By fusing radar resilience with electro-optical precision, the Elli-3312 improves accuracy, minimizes false positives, and ensures faster cueing of weapon stations. This enhances survivability in environments where seconds determine the difference between neutralizing a threat and sustaining damage.

The advantages of the Elli-3312 become particularly evident when compared with the historical evolution of armored protection. Passive methods, such as slat armor or welded cages, were conceived as quick fixes to counter new types of attacks but lacked adaptability and placed limits on vehicle mobility. Elli-3312, by contrast, embodies a new generation of active, networked defenses capable of evolving alongside the changing threat landscape. Its design also anticipates future integration with broader C4ISR systems, reinforcing its potential role as part of a networked, multi-layered defense architecture.

Strategically, the unveiling of the Elli-3312 at MSPO 2025 highlights the increasing emphasis placed by NATO members and partners on counter-drone solutions. As conflicts such as the war in Ukraine have demonstrated, drones can inflict severe damage on even the most advanced armored platforms if left unchecked. The Elli-3312 therefore represents not only a technological development but also a geopolitical tool, offering allied nations a modular, export-ready solution to reinforce their armored forces. For IAI, this debut strengthens its reputation as a supplier of advanced battlefield systems while opening new avenues for cooperation and industrial partnerships.

The presentation of the Elli-3312 HunterEye in Kielce is more than the unveiling of a new sensor system. It signals a transition in armored defense from reactive, passive measures to proactive, integrated solutions that connect seamlessly with wider command and control structures. By marrying radar detection with electro-optical tracking in a compact and modular unit, IAI has set a new benchmark for survivability in the drone-dominated battlefield of the future.