Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has completed development of RecceLite XR, the third and latest model of the advanced, state-of-the-art reconnaissance system.

The new version is supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and enhanced sensors which were put to trial in a live test in late 2021. The standoff capability is crucial when armed forces are dealing with threats that evolve in an area that is across a certain border.

An aircraft carrying the Reccelite can fly along the border while looking sideways and far. In air force jargon, this is called “gate keeping,” with the “doorman” up in the skies and knowing exactly who is near the imaginary gate.

According to a Rafael source, the new upgraded version can look at and monitor a number of targets simultaneously, within ranges of up to 100 km. The system can be also carried by large unmanned air systems (UAS) like the Predator B or the Heron TP.

Rafael recently demonstrated the third-generation model of the RecceLite XR and its new capabilities for the first time to an international delegation, including over twenty industry partners and customers from several different countries. The simulation involved a series of operational tasks and successful execution by the third generation RecceLite XR, which was supported by other Rafael systems.

RecceLite provides multi-spectral, multi-role, real-time stand-off and stand-in reconnaissance, consisting of an airborne pod, a wide digital D/L, and a ground exploitation station. It is part of Rafael’s family of advanced aerial and ground Electro-Optical (EO) systems that also includes the LITENING targeting pod, the Toplite EO/Infrared pod, the Sky Spotter ground early warning system, among others.

According to the company, the third generation RecceLite XR pod builds on its operational predecessor with extended ranges over 80 km, and stand-in and standoff operation. It has an enhanced sensor suite with four different wavelengths: VIS, Near Infrared (NIR), Medium Wavelength Infrared (MWIR), and Short Wavelength Infrared (SWIR). The latest RecceLite XR model also includes enhanced image resolution, real-time video, and advanced Line of Sight stabilization, with extended area coverage, advanced image algorithms, and AI, each enabling Wide Area Persistent Surveillance (WAPS).

Rafael says that during the live demonstration in northern Israel, the third generation RecceLite XR operated with Rafael’s ImiLite Ground Exploitation Station (GES) to perform a full VISINT operational cycle, from live reconnaissance to target generation. At distances over 50 km, the latest version of RecceLite XR successfully identified four different targets and distinguished the hostile target from three nearby decoys. The collaboration of Rafael systems in real-time contributed to the success of the simulation as was seen with the successful operation of the ImiLite GES.

“This demo illustrated part of Rafael’s spectrum of combat-proven intelligence capabilities which are critical in today’s asymmetric, urban-warfare environments,” said Ofer Weinberg, VP, BD and Marketing at Rafael’s Air and C4ISR Systems division. “In these arenas, detecting and classifying elusive enemies presents a significant challenge that air forces around the world must successfully overcome. We thank our industry partners and our customers for coming to get a first-hand look at the latest model of our RecceLite XR in action and for sharing their feedback as well as their operational experience.”