The United States Navy announced that by no later than the end of fiscal 2017 it will acquire Gulfstream jets which have been modified to carry an airborne Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) X/S band radar. This radar detection system was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)/Elta Systems for airborne Aerieal Early Warning missions.

Israel Aerospace Industries is the largest aerospace & defense company and the largest industrial exporter in Israel. IAI is a global leader in the development and production of military and commercial aerospace and defense systems.

The IDF is testing out an Israeli-designed “Green Rock” radar system that can spot the source of mortar fire and allow potential victims to run for cover before they weapons hit their targets.

Israel lost four soldiers on Monday when a Hamas mortar shell slammed into a building near the Gaza border, claiming four more lives and injuring six others.

The Elta subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been working on the system for several years and sped up their deployment for the IDF since the beginning of the Protective Edge war against Hamas.

The operation Color Red early-warning system for Kassam rockets does not track mortar shells, which have a low trajectory. The Green Rock system’s identifying the source of fire not only gives people time to run for cover but also allowed soldiers to return fire and intercept the shell.

The system is mobile and can be used on four-wheel vehicles and armored personnel carriers (APC).

Another system under development to thwart mortar shell attacks is Rafael Advanced Defense System’s Iron Beam, which features a laser ray.

Globes reported that the IDF is using new drones that have provided valuable intelligence to the military during the war.

Israel has just received its newest defense against the Palestinian Authority’s attacks on the western Negev — or anywhere in the country, for that matter.

The new system arrived in IDF hands on Wednesday — the same morning the PA unity government launched another rocket attack from Gaza on southern Israel. The Qassam exploded at the entrance to a kibbutz, about 300 meters from a private home. No one was physically injured, but several people were shaken up.

With the ‘Green Rock’ mobile autonomous tactical counter Rocket, Artillery & Mortar (C-RAM) system, perhaps such attacks will be neutralized in the near future.

The system, to be known to the IDF as ‘Wind Shield,’ was produced by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)’s ELTA subsidiary. It is installed on a moving vehicle (read: armored car, truck, all-terrain vehicle or whatever have you), and off you go.

It includes a “phased-array doppler radar” which detects the originating launching point of ballistic munitions such as rockets, artillery and mortars, and tracks their trajectories. In addition, it can intercept the fire before it reaches the target. The system can also be used to detect low-flying airborne targets such as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), gliders and hovering platforms.

The system will be on display at the Eurostatory exhibition to be held June 16-20 in Paris.

The Amos-4 communications satellite was successfully launched into space on Saturday night from Kazakhstan.

Spacecom, operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, announced that Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has selected Space International Services, Ltd. (SIS) to launch the AMOS-4 commercial satellite. The launch is scheduled to take place this Saturday night from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

AMOS-4 will be the second AMOS satellite launched by SIS on its Zenit-3SLB launch vehicle. AMOS-3 was launched to its 4ºW orbital position in 2008 on the same vehicle. AMOS-4′s launch weight will be approximately 4.2 tons, demonstrating that SIS has significantly increased the Zenit-3SLB vehicle’s performance since the AMOS-3 launch.

The satellite is expected to have a lifespan of 12 years.

Here are some photos from its construction and transportation to the launch site.

Cool. I wish I was going with it.

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), in its continuing archaeological excavations of the drainage channel between the City of David and the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden, has uncovered a Hebrew seal dating back to the First Temple period.

The seal was discovered on the floor of the remains of a building also dating to the end of the First Temple period; a building that IAA said was the closest one to the First Temple found thus far in excavations. According to a statement released by IAA, the seal “is made of a semi-precious stone and is engraved with the name of its owner: ‘Lematanyahu Ben Ho…’ (‘למתניהו בן הו…’ meaning: ‘Belonging to Matanyahu Ben Ho…’). The rest of the inscription is erased.”

At an early stage of the excavations, which is underwritten by the Ir David Foundation, the archaeologists involved recognized the potential for significant discoveries in the area, and thus decided that they would painstakingly sift through any soil removed from the site. This decision was vindicated, as the seal was discovered during the sifting process.

Seals were used by individuals in the First Temple period to sign letters and identify their owner, and were set in a signet ring for convenience.

Eli Shukron, the excavation director, said: “the name Matanyahu, like the name Netanyahu, means giving to God. These names are mentioned several times in the Bible. They are typical of the names in the Kingdom of Judah in latter part of the First Temple period – from the end of the eighth century BCE until the destruction of the Temple in 586 BCE.

“To find a seal from the First Temple period at the foot of the Temple Mount walls is rare and very exciting,” he added. “This is a tangible greeting of sorts from a man named Matanyahu who lived here more than 2,700 years ago.”

Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), partners in production of the Arrow ballistic-missile defense system, intend to sell the weapon system to South Korea, according to Defense News.

The report stated that the deal is estimated to exceed $1 billion, and would be consummated between the US and South Korean governments.

“There’s still a long way to go, but we and our Israeli partners are working very persistently to be able to provide this phenomenal capability to South Korea, an important U.S. ally,” Roger Krone, president of Boeing said recently in Tel Aviv.

Last week, Boeing and IAI announced that they were increasing collaboration on the Arrow anti-ballistic missile program and other projects in the missile defense arena.