Hebrew U Isolates ‘Haploid’ Human Stem Cells, Changing Future of Medicine

Shin Bet Chief: Hackers Attacking Israel Get Unpleasant Surprises

Elbit Unveils Suicide Drone at Paris Air Show

“For thou shalt make them turn their back, thou shalt make ready with thy bowstrings against the face of them.” Psalms 21:13 (The Israel Bible™)

Elbit’s SkyStriker (Courtesy Elbit)

At the 2017 Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, Elbit Systems launched SkyStriker – a remotely operated electro-optical, precise guided Loitering Munition (LM), designed to seek, locate and engage various targets for the tactical level corps. The new platform is based on Elbit Systems’ vast experience providing precise long-range tactical solutions.

LM (a.k.a. suicide drone or kamikaze drone) is a weapon system category in which the munition loiters around the target area for some time, searches for targets and attacks once a target is acquired. LMs enable faster reaction times against concealed or hidden targets that emerge for short periods, without having to place high-value platforms close to the target area. It also allow more selective targeting, since the attack mission can always be aborted within seconds.

LMs fit in the niche between cruise missiles and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), and share characteristics with both. They differ from cruise missiles in that they are designed to loiter for a relatively long time around the target area, and from UCAVs in that an LM is expendable in an attack and has a built-in warhead.

Loitering weapons first emerged in the 1980s for use against surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and were deployed by several military forces in the 1990s. Starting in the 2000s, loitering weapons have been developed for additional roles ranging from relatively long-range strikes and fire support down to tactical, very short-range battlefield systems that fit in a backpack.

Loitering munitions have proliferated into use by at least 14 countries, with several different types in use as of 2017. As of 2017, loitering munitions are in use by Israel, the United States, China, South Korea, Poland, Iran, Yemen Houthis Rebels, ISIS, Azerbaijan, Germany, Kazakhstan, India, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

SkyStriker is able to locate, acquire and strike operator-marked targets enabling high-precision performance. The system’s electric propulsion provides a low acoustic signature and enables covert low altitude operations. Due to its flight speed capability, it can reach a distance of tens of kilometers within minutes. Upon reaching the target area, it can loiter and pursue the target for up to two hours.

SkyStriker offers quick deployment and ease of operation in the field, provides forces with the ability to observe and identify an enemy target before delivering a rapid precision airstrike. Its remote operation capability reduces operators’ exposure to detection or enemy fire while guiding the LM to its target.

In addition to high accuracy, long-range and a significant loitering time, the SkyStriker is capable of carrying up to 22 pounds of munitions. The system also provides significant flexibility such as the ability to choose any target, and engage at any direction and in various angles (shallow to steep), while significantly decreasing costs.

And, possibly the most important feature: SkyStriker enables its operator to abort a strike up to two seconds to impact, re-engage, and in case of lack of authorized targets to order a safe return home.

Elad Aharonson General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR Division said in a statement: “SkyStriker is a force multiplier for the units in the field, allowing them to perform precise missions without putting them in harm’s way.”

You May Like

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Elbit Unveils Suicide Drone at Paris Air Show : http://ift.tt/2thog7R

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

: http://ift.tt/2sOP1A4

21 Israeli Companies to Participate in World’s ‘Largest’ Biotech Conference

“Fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I strengthen thee, yea, I help thee; yea, I uphold thee with My victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (The Israel Bible™)

(Screenshot)

Twenty-one leading Israeli companies will have a presence June 19-22 at the Israel Innovation Authority’s (IIA) pavilion during the 2017 BIO International Convention in San Diego, which is billed as the world’s “largest” biotech conference.

The Israeli Ministry of Economy called the conference the “world’s largest and most prestigious biotechnology event,” with more than 16,000 attendees from 76 countries convening to share ideas and insights on the latest biotechnology innovations.

Heads of state, government ministers, ambassadors and regulatory agencies attend the conference. This year’s keynote speaker is former British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The IIA has participated in the biotech convention for the past two decades, and during the past eight years has organized Israel’s national pavilion.

“The conference is an opportunity for Israeli companies to present their latest developments, and create scientific and economic ties with leading international players in the field,” said Aharon Aharon, CEO of the IIA.

Some of the Israeli companies participating in the conference are Alpha Tau Medical, which utilizes alpha radiation to treat cancerous tumors; Body Vision Medical, which is revolutionizing early-stage diagnosis of tumors; and Nutrino Health, which utilizes digital monitoring to create nutrition plans for people with diabetes.

You May Like

Let's block ads! (Why?)

21 Israeli Companies to Participate in World’s ‘Largest’ Biotech Conference : http://ift.tt/2szlOcK

Chinese Venture Fund With Hebrew Name Investing $100 Million in Israel

“Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.” Ecclesiastes 11:1 (The Israel Bible™)

Catherine K.C. Leung and Isaac ‘Yitz’ Applbaum with an image of their first Israeli investment, Twiggle (Images courtesy of MizMaa, and YouTube screenshot)

A new Chinese venture capital fund wants to invest $100 million in Israel, Globes reported Tuesday. It is named MizMaa – an acronym for Mizrach-Ma’arav (east-west), and it gets its funding from three wealthy Chinese families, chiefly from the Chen family, the 58th wealthiest family in the world.

Last May, MizMaa Ventures and Korea Investment Partners led a new funding round for Twiggle, an Israeli company specializing in the use of AI in online retail. The $15 million investment round brought Twiggle’s total funding to more than $33 million, and will be used to expand its US-based operations, product development and marketing and sales teams.

Twiggle uses natural language processing to improve customer searching and increase relevance and recall for online and mobile retail platforms. The Twiggle’s patented Semantic API allows retailers to instantly improve their search engines and interact with online customers in a natural and personal manner, leading to improved sales.

“When we look at the world, Israel represents one of the most dynamic centers of technological advancements,” declares the MizMaa website, promising to “harness the best ideas and products from Israel’s technology sector together with capital from three families to help companies and leaders access markets in the US and Asia.”

“MizMaa is working with the deep technology innovators emerging from Israel’s high tech sector. We are providing long-term investment capital, and years of investment, marketing, finance, and systems expertise. Our goal is to back these leaders in the innovative changes they are making to the marketplace,” the statement adds.

The two brains behind the new venture fund are Catherine K.C. Leung, who served as Vice Chairman of JPMorgan Asia Investment Banking, and Isaac “Yitz” Applbaum, Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Jerusalem for Public Private Partnerships.

Leung told Globes: “I think that because of the language, and because of the substantial cultural differences, it isn’t easy for Israeli companies to operate in the East. It’s something that we would like to give real help in. I understand the culture, I was born in China, and I understand the language. I studied later in both Hong Kong and the US, so I also know this part.”

She also confessed that she doesn’t know Israel very well, however, “Isaac and I come here once a month for four days, and he has been very active here for more than 10 years already.”

She also noted that “after just over a year here, the Israelis are very diligent, very practical, and very smart. You can see that if you work very hard, you will see that your partners are working just as hard as you are, and maybe even harder.”

You May Like

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Chinese Venture Fund With Hebrew Name Investing $100 Million in Israel : http://ift.tt/2t8A7C5