RAFAEL Armament Development Authority
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- See Raphael (archangel) about the archangel.
RAFAEL Armament Development Authority, known as RAFAEL or Rafael, (also spelled as Raphael or Rephael, and in Hebrew: רפא"ל – רשות לפיתוח אמצעי לחימה) is the Israeli authority for development of weapons and military technology. Rafael is a sub-division of the Israeli Defence ministry and considered as a national or governmental firm.
Rafael develops and produces fighting-technologies for the Israeli Defence Forces as well for exporting abroad.
Famous technologies
- Overhead Weapon Station (OWS) – a remote control weapon installed on armoured fighting vehicles and is being operated by a soldier from within the armoured cabine, thus enabling the gunner to shoot with maximal safety without being exposed to enemy's gunfire. It usually armed with 7.62 mm machinegun (known as MAG Rafael)
- LITENING targeting pod – precision targeting system.
- Stabilized naval weapon station (SNWS)Typhoon
- Rafael Python 5 – the world's most advanced air-to-air missile with full-sphere capabilities.
- air-to-surface standoff missilePopeye (AGM-142)
- SPIKE-ER ATGM (anti-tank guided missile).
- Simon Breach grenade – Door Breaching Rifle Grenade (RELM/GREM)
- WallBuster – Wall Breaching Grenade Launcher
- CARPET minefield clearing
- Add-on armour: passive armor and reactive armor coats.
- Electronics and Electro-Optics.
- Remote Control Weapon Station (RCWS) – a remote control weapon installed on armoured fighting vehicles or naval vessels and can be controlled from within the cabine. Various armaments are possible:
- 7.62 mm machinegun (known as MAG Rafael)
- autocannon in caliber of 20 mm up to 40 mm
- 30 mm autocannon combined with two ATGMs pod and 7.62 mm light machine gun
- TROPHY Active Protection System for armored fighting vehicles [1]
- Skylark\Skylite canister-launched mini-UAV [2]
- High-tech systems for the Merkava main battle tank and the Merkava APC "Nammer".
See also
- Israel Defence Forces
- IMI
- IAI
- Elbit
- El-Op
- Soltam.