Israel’s Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has announced the acquisition of ‘Fire Weaver’ – a networked, battalion-level sensor-to-shooter system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Fire Weaver, locally known as ‘smart trigger’ will be implemented with Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) divisions as it becomes operational in the coming year. The system will enable combat elements to engage enemy targets faster than ever before, enabling small forces to deliver firepower against the ‘disappearing targets’ that are characteristic in todays asymmetric battlespace.
Fire Weaver was developed by the IDF’s ground forces command, IMOD’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) and Rafael, under the IDF’s battlefield digitization process. The system connects the combat maneuver elements with the effectors participating in the land battle, creating a ‘fires exchange’, where units in contact with the enemy can ‘publish’ a tender – a call for fire specifying the exact target location. The tender is instantly distributed to the fire elements, based on ‘bids’ of each effector, positioned within range, ready to fire, within the safety limits, at the shortest time and the lowest cost.
Fire Weaver acts as an exchange connecting the most efficient response to the call for fire, by closing a rapid, precise, effective and secure sensor-to-shooter loop. The system can process multiple requests and multiple fires simultaneously, introducing new levels of efficiency and response.
An essential capability of Fire Weaver is the GPS-independent geo-pixel-based tactical common language developed at Rafael, based on 3D models and computer vision technology. Shared among all the sensors and shooters participating in the system, this language ensures safe and secure exchange of spatial information, enabling users to share target information and common situational picture from different lines of sight.
Fire Weaver enables participants to share targets, blue forces, sensitive locations and other points of interest. Their location and status are shown as augmented display on the sights or battle management systems.
Fire Weaver employs advanced artificial intelligence algorithms to process the battle data in real time, analyzes it, and prioritizes fire allocation based on availability, priorities and requirements. The system constantly calculates the optimal shooter for each target, based on parameters such as location, line-of-sight, effectiveness, current ammunition status etc., while minimizing collateral damage and fratricide, taking into consideration the rules of engagement in real time.
“Fire Weaver is a main milestone in the IDF’s battlefield digitization effort.” Lieutenant Colonel R, Project Leader at MAFAT commented. “The innovative system essentially creates an ‘operational internet’ and brings to the battlefield the same innovation that the internet brought to the civilian world, the smart home and the smart cities. Fire Weaver enables operational connectivity between Joint forces and simplifies integration processes between naval, air and ground forces”.
The system includes a Fire Management Terminal application, which provides the commander with a full control of the entire process, including cases of multiple sensor-to-shooter loops in parallel.
As Fire Weaver is complementary to any C4I system, it will be employed by the IDF with the ‘digital army program’ (DAP) implemented by Elbit Systems. In contrast to such C4I systems, that are designed for operations at headquarters, and the command level, the new Fire Weaver is implemented at battalion level and below, empowering the combat echelon by providing more effective firepower support to the fighting units. Fire Weaver edge elements are associated with each effector and combat unit, embedded in the binoculars, target acquisition spotting and weapon sights. Targets and calls for fires are displayed directly on the battle management and fire controls of fire support elements, reducing the risk of friendly fire and prevents collateral damage. Fire Weaver is designed with full compliance with the MIL STD 882 safety standard.
In addition to the IDF, the system has been selected by the German Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and Use of the Federal Armed Forces (BAAINBw), to provide an advanced experimentation as part of the “glass battlefield to support dynamic operations (ErzUntGlas)”.
from Defense Update: https://ift.tt/2OnF7yZ
via Defense News
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