Israeli ‘mind reader’ helmet unveiled

Financial Express ^ | 10FEB05 | HUMA SIDDIQUI

[RetroWarrior]

The US has been using 'smart' helmets since the 80's. Think of the Apache.

[IAF ThunderPilot]

This helmet is indeed the front line of the high tech helmets for pilots.
I hope it will enter to service in all the IAF squadrons as soon as possible.

[SirLurkedalot]

Yep

[American in Israel]

Sure would be nice if it entered service in the USA too. But some people "don't want third party" stuff.

What do you think of the conversion of the Python 5 to a ground based SAM system. That is pretty hot stuff. Wish they would deploy such systems around Israel's borders. A fuzzy logic image recognition system seeker set up as a launch and leave tracker is darned hard to beat. Even the SA-10 Russian system depends on a fire control radar at the SAM launcher. These systems could be fiber-optic fed overall battle assessment info from a Pinetree radar miles away and be able to fire their missiles with no emissions at all. Darn hard to beat, just fire the missile in the general direction and let the missile hunt for PaPa.

Instead of waiting for the jet to come into targeting aspect, fire the missile to where it is going to be and let the missile find the target itself. The plane will have a hard time hitting a SAM it cannot get in line of sight of.

Dang, sell them to the USA, screw the turd party pride!!!

[sukhoi-30mki]

The 'Spyder' seems to be a real neat system,though a range improvement(from the present 15 to upto 30kms) would be nice.If it wins the Indian AF contract,it could also get a lookin from others like Singapore.I really don't see the US buying it -there's just too much politics involved & besides buying a foreign system would make it difficult US companies to sell rival products effectively!

PS-did you read about the Indian navy selecting Rafael's Derby AAM for it's upgraded SeaHarriers?

[American in Israel]

Python 5

One of the most significant decisions about the new missile was choosing the Python 4's aero dynamical configuration. The designers had realized that the Python 4's unique configuration had yet to exploit its full potential. Both missiles rely on aero dynamics rather than on vector steering - a technology which suffers from several problems such as relying on the rocket's fuel that can run out and leave the missile ineffective. The Python 5 missile's aero dynamical configuration contributes a lot to its performance even when its rocket stops working. Moreover, using the same configuration saves millions of dollars in the R&D process.
When this puppy runs "out of gas" at mach 3, it will still be able to steer itself into the target while coasting down!

Agility

Then what makes the Python 5 so revolutionary?

By definition, the Python 5 is considered to be a short range air-to-air missile, yet its range exceeds regular air-to-air missiles, and is more close to what is technically called BVR (beyond visual range) missiles. Those missiles can be shot upon targets which are not visually seen at the moment of launch, and are acquired by the missile itself during its flight path. New technologies implemented in the Python 5 give it maneuvering and launching skills unimaginable just few years ago. Instead of talking about certain “killing hemisphere” we are talking about an ability to shoot any target at any angle, including backwards launch (!). This ability is possible by applying LOAL (lock on after launch) technology. In oppose to LOBL (lock on before launch), that is used in all short range air-to-air missiles (excluding the Python 5 of course) in LOAL mode the pilot can launch a missile without being locked on the target, by getting the aircraft's estimated location from an array of sensors which are deployed on the launching aircraft. From the moment the Python 5 is launched, its head seeker scans the designated area constantly while it flies in a direct path to the estimated location of the target. Once the missile “sees” the target, it employs its unique, first of its kind, electro-optical head-seeker and locks on the target. Then the missile switches to a close hunt combat which holds no future to the target aircraft.

Eyes

Conventional air-to-air missiles see targets as dots - a fact which makes it hard for the missile to tell between true or false targets .The Python 5's head seeker literally sees a clear image of the target and background, giving it an incredible advantage over other missiles by authenticating the target, thus reducing the chance of being mislead by counter measures. Using this technology allows the luxury of locking on a target after the launch. The transition to this unique technology required a development by RAFAEL, which exists in only several countries in the world. Using an electro-optical head seeker also makes it easier to locate and lock on low-heat signature aircrafts such as UAVs, helicopters or even cruise missiles. These aircrafts can fly very close to the ground and can be very hard to detect using regular head seekers. The Python 5 with the electro-optical head can easily accomplish that, by creating a sharp target image and locking on it. In order to achieve perfect performance and tracking ability, the engineers at RAFAEL tested the Python 5 against all advanced counter measures. Usually this is a tough challenge, as the missile would have to handle counter measures in the future. But that was not an impossible challenge to RAFAEL, which also develops the future counter measures. The unique head-seeker also extends the lethality of the missile by aiming it to the target's most vulnerable areas. Most heat seeking missiles tend to home on the hottest spot of the aircraft which is normally the rear exhaust system. In modern combat history, some aircrafts that were hit by a missile in that area, managed to survive the flight until the landing. The Python 5, which acquires a sharp image of the target can home on the most critical areas of the aircraft, such as the cockpit or the central area, and significantly improve the chances for a shoot down.
Testing

the Python 5 was ready to take a test which seemed to be impossible to several people at the Israeli air force. The target was a low-signature UAV which was flying at low altitude in a hot desert area. Not like the previous test of the Python 4, the UAV was not equipped with a flare to make it easier on the missile. When looking at the video of the head-seeker, it is very hard to see the target in a human eye. The missile was about to be launched from an F-16, flying 15,000 feet above the UAV. According to plan, the Python 5 was launched from the F-16, and started to fly sharply downwards, chasing the target. In the video, the UAV can be identified only few seconds before the missile reaches it, but the Python 5 locked on the target long before that. The test was crowned to be a complete success, and the Python 5 proved itself to be the best air-to-air missile in the world. Until then, no missile in the world could perform such shot down. But that was just the beginning. The second missile...

This missile can be fired into a dogfight of enemy and friendly aircraft and it will seek out only enemy aircraft based on the shape of the targets it sees! It can follow a target emitting no heat from a look down mode against any background because it is not looking for heat spots, it is looking for Aircraft, and knows what type it is when it sees it.

Length 3096 mm
Span 640mm
Body 16 cm
Weight 103.6 kg (warhead over 11 kg)
Guidance Type Electro-Optical
Model 1 x spr.
Speed 4 Mach
Range More than 20 km

Wanna re-think that "third party" comment? -grin-

Israel is not selling American Technology to others, It already has the best, thanks to Clintoon shooting down all Missile system R&D during his mismanagement of the White House.

[American in Israel]

Pretty impressive stuff. The combination of the derby and the Python 5 in the same vehicle is doubling your bets. I can see where the Python 5 would have trouble at night, it would then revert to a fancy heat seeker. A derby would have trouble with stealth aircraft. Between the two of them, there is not much that could get through.

I wonder if the acoustic sensors could pick up a steath aircraft very well. If so, the Python 5 and acoustic sensors could be a real problem for stealth type aircraft.

[sukhoi-30mki]

I don't think the Spyder needs to worry about 'real stealthy' aircraft for atleast 10 years!!!

[Alouette]

The Beta version:

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[montag813]

This mind-reader helmet should be very helpful in determining from offshore where Iranian children are located, so as to aid in their kidnapping and sale of organs.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[sheik yerbouty]

Only if it is grounded..

[Terpfen]

Hate to tell you, Alouette, but that Penny-Arcade comic was funnier when it dealt with Metal Gear Solid 2. Good job so far, though.

[familyop]

Materiel like that helmet is a good thing. And I'm not afraid of what despots in countries like Russia (see proof below) and Iran say to their populations. They will spread their lies whether we develop weapons or not.

From an older post:
"Russian FM To Israel: Chechnya No, Palestine and Iranian Nukes Yes" http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1210302/posts
Lavrov said the international community considers the West Bank and Gaza as occupied territory, but concerning Chechnya, the Russian Foreign Minister wondered aloud, "How can one be an occupier in his own country? Chechnya is part of Russia."

Much more recently:
"Russia 'tired of West's lectures'"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1342410/posts

And yes, earlier in this thread, their were conspiracy story comments. But I am getting away from bothering to argue with a certain level of apparent opposition. The Israeli helmet, BTW, is likely very different from the one developed in the USA so long ago, as is some of the newer missile technology.

[Convert from ECUSA]

We should order a bunch from Israel right away! Never be too proud to buy good stuff put together by a friend! If I were President, I'd tell the Dept. of Defense to not only buy a bunch, but start arrangments to produce them under license.

[American in Israel]

start arrangments to produce them under license.

How about we trade F16's for the cost of the license? Say this year we give you 5 billion in Fighters, but for trade, no cash?

[Convert from ECUSA]

Hmmmmm. We give Israel a license to produce F-16s and Israel gives us a license to product these new helmets. If I were in charge I think that would work just fine for me.

[American in Israel]

The helmets are nice, but the Python 5 is HOT STUFF that our pilots should not be without. Imagine a missile you can fire over the horizon into the path of an oncoming jet that will spot the jet in a crowd of friendlys and hit only it. One that can follow it against flare defenses as it is looking for the cockpit by image recognition software, not a hot spot! One that is 4 times faster than a patriot interceptor rocket and is able to target cruise missiles.

The helmet is nice, but putting the brains in the missile instead of the launcher is pretty hard to beat.

[American in Israel]

Grounded? So that is what is wrong... -grin-

[grey_whiskers]

?i> it is looking for Aircraft, and knows what type it is when it sees it

Yeah, only problem with that is when your enemy has pirated your designs, or you have sold them some of your planes! /grin