by Israel Hayom Staff
Military teams with a civilian defense company, successfully tests drone-based system capable of tracking the incendiary airborne devices that have scorched thousands of acres and caused millions in damage to Israeli border towns since late April.
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The new drone meant to counter kite terrorism | Screenshot
The
IDF has been working to come up with countermeasures to the hundreds of
burning kites and balloons Hamas operatives have been sending over the
border to torch Israeli fields and property as part of its ongoing arson
and protests campaign along the Israel-Gaza security fence.
On Monday, IDF soldiers from the Ground
Forces' Matmon Unit and field intelligence teamed up with a civilian
security company to test a trial system that will bring an end to the
destructive fires caused when the kites and balloons touch down on the
Israeli side of the fence, the Walla news reported.
The ensuing fires have so far devoured over
8,000 of acres of forest and agricultural land, causing millions of
dollars in damage.
To carry out the tests, the engineers and
soldiers set up equipment and lookout points along the border. The
proposed system deploys a drone nicknamed "Shekel and Half" that is
capable of flying a few kilometers away from its operator and
maneuvering at a great height.
The test kicked off with an attempt to
track down Hamas balloons being released in real time. Then the team
decided to tie a balloon to a drone that would hover near the release
point and allow the spotter to locate the balloon and mark its precise
location using laser technology, while it was still moving.
After several favorable tests, the system
was deemed a success. Defense officials who witnessed the tests said
that the system allowed Israel to spot and track balloons, even though
they are small objects that move quickly, making it possible to provide
information about their location to brigade headquarters, whose staff
will direct firefighting squads to the correct locations.
Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/07/10/israel-field-tests-methods-to-fight-kite-terrorism-firebomb-balloons/
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