RAFAEL Armament Development Authority

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Rafael)

For other uses, see Rafael (disambiguation).

RAFAEL Armament Development Authority, known as RAFAEL or Rafael, (also spelled as Raphael or Rephael, and in Hebrew: רפאל - רשות לפיתוח אמצעי לחימה) is the Israeli authority for development of weapons and military technology. Rafael is a former sub-division of the Israeli Defence ministry and is considered a governmental firm.

Rafael develops and produces fighting-technologies for the Israel Defence Forces as well for exporting abroad. All current projects are, of course, classified.

[edit] Famous technologies

Overhead Weapon Station (OWS) - a remote controlled weapon installed on armoured fighting vehicles and is being operated by a soldier from within the armoured cabin, thus enabling the gunner to shoot with maximal safety without being exposed to enemy gunfire. It is usually a machine gun armed with 7.62 mm ammo (known as MAG Rafael).[1]
LITENING targeting pod - precision targeting system.
Stabilized naval weapon station (SNWS) Typhoon
Rafael Python 5 - One of the world's most advanced air-to-air missile with full-sphere capabilities.
Air-to-surface standoff missile Popeye (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 Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS) - a remote controlled weapon installed on armoured fighting vehicles or naval vessels and can be controlled from within the cabin. Various armaments are possible:
- 7.62 mm machine gun (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 [2]
Skylark\Skylite canister-launched mini-UAV [3]
High-tech systems for the Merkava main battle tank and the Merkava APC "Nammer".