Page 10 - ADAS 2024 - DAY 1

Innovations in Force Protection

Reshaping Modern Combat

Global conflicts are demonstrating the im- defend static positions can be employed rockets in a very cheap and easy way to
portance of defending against asymmetric to support offensive operations, particu- facilitate this kind of strike,” Bitton said.
threats, making advances in force protection larly combat manoeuvre through complex As a result three-dimensional, 360-degree,
essential. This is resulting in new systems and contested areas of operation. Ongoing “full hemisphere” protection against threats
that enable manoeuvrability and survivability conflicts worldwide continue to illustrate is vital.
in the face of evolving threats enable forces the importance of FP across the contem-
to effectively complete their missions and porary operating environment (COE). In Evolving Force Protection
uninterrupted combat continuity. Social understanding the notion of asymmetric
media channels are awash with footage warfare in the COE, one sees that weap- Rafael’s Land & Manoeuvre Directorate,
of anti-tank missiles and one-way attack onised fixed-wing and quadrotor drones which has a long history in FP, is now re-
drones destroying personnel and equipment can incapacitate ground combat vehicles sponding quickly to emerging demand sig-
on both sides of the war in Ukraine, while worth ‘millions of dollars’. nals from the COE, which include the ability
in Gaza, Hamas regularly uploads videos of to protect combat manoeuvre forces during
rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks on offensive operations. ‘Rafael is a technology
Israeli armoured platforms. ‘You can have Recent conflicts have highlighted the danger lab for Israel’s Ministry of Defence, so there
the best air force and intelligence in the of asymmetric threats, ’When an adversary is a very close connection with the Israel
world, but if you don’t have strong, fast, doesn’t have the budget, they start to be- Defence Forces [IDF],’ said Bittion, ‘This is
powerful and long-range manoeuvre to come very sharp and intelligent and today why we bring a lot of technology and a lot
break through enemy lines, you cannot everybody can buy anti-tank missiles and of systems and capabilities that can help
win a war,’ said Guy Bitton, Head Of
Business Development at Rafael’s Land
& Manoeuvre Directorate.

Force protection (FP) has traditionally been
defined as a series of defensive measures
designed to protect military personnel,
equipment and infrastructure from sym-
metric and asymmetric threats to preserve
freedom of action and operational effec-
tiveness. However, given the rapidly evolv-
ing nature of the modern battlespace, the
most advanced armed forces worldwide are
now considering how technologies used to

10 SEPTEMBER-25-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS

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