Honor: US Army Begins Operational Pilot with Israeli Skimmer | Israel Today

The system draws inspiration from the gaming world and allows the operator to control the tool through "augmented reality" • An earlier version of the system was activated against terrorist threats on the Gaza border

• An American soldier operates the glider

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The Ministry of Defense, the Israeli company "XTEND" and the body of the fight against terrorism of the US Department of Defense have launched an operational pilot that will examine the use of the "Skylord" system.

This is an "augmented reality" interface that is mounted on a skimmer and allows the operator to control it remotely.

In doing so, the operator is able to intercept various air threats - mainly enemy gliders.

An earlier version of the system has already been used successfully in dealing with threats from terrorist organizations on the Gaza border.

Yesterday it was reported in "Israel Today" that the IDF is also considering the possibility of acquiring technology.

The pilot, led by the R&D unit at Mapat of the Ministry of Defense together with the CTTSO, is done after a one-year examination of the system's capabilities.

The technology was developed according to the concrete operational needs of US Army units. Its capabilities include easy and intuitive operation by the fighters, without complex coordination.

During the pilot, the field performance of several dozen "Skylord" systems will be tested.

The interface of the system was developed by the Israeli company "XTEND", and it allows the glider operator to feel the area "through the glider's eyes" and actually experience what is happening as if he is there, without risking his life.

Beyond identifying the threats and being able to defend against them, the system also enables remote operation of payloads (dedicated payloads for gliders and drones).

"This collaboration assimilates innovative technological capabilities customers from the field of augmented reality and the gaming world," congratulated the head of the UAV and glider industry at the R&D unit in Mapat, Lt. Col. Menachem Landau.

"We look forward to expanding our collaboration with our CTTSO counterparts and continuing to develop advanced technologies to protect our forces and increase their operational capabilities."

Xtend CEO Aviv Shapira noted that “The system we have developed is one of the most advanced kinetic skimmer interceptors in the world.

We are excited about the opportunity given to us to take part in this important operational cooperation that will help protect the lives of IDF and US Army soldiers on the battlefield. "