Israel launched The Carmel Program three years ago for the improvement of advanced technology to update the Israeli Defence Forces’ (IDF) combat vehicles. It was a multi-year program, and the plan was to produce responsive, practical, compact, state of the art and easy to control vehicles with comparatively low cost. The program revolved around the development of the technology essential for the “combat field of the future,” maintaining operational dominance through technological supremacy.

Israel demonstrated three prototypes of the Carmel in an event on Sunday. It was attended by the Ministry of Defense Director General, Commander of the Ground Forces, IDF Deputy Chief of General Staff Head of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development in IMOD, and senior officials from the IDF and defense establishment.

How it began

A crucial challenge was presented to the three major defense industries in Israel during the first phase of the Carmel Program. It was to demonstrate the practicability of an AFV that is controlled by only two combat soldiers, with a closed hatch. After a detailed evaluation process, the Ministry of Defense chose three Israeli defense industries to work on the development program: Rafael, IAI, and Elbit Systems.

Separately every industry was given the task to design its technological concept, that would renovate and improve the interior part of the IDF’s combat vehicles to an advanced cockpit similar to a fighter’s cockpit. It was a challenge for all the three companies to establish the feasibility of two soldiers steering closed hatch operations and assimilating high-tech capabilities that would boost operation efficiency for the IDF’s maneuver forces. The advanced cockpit incorporates independent skills like detecting targets, defense, maneuvering, etc. More on, the combat soldier enjoys the facilities of multi-sensor fusion and 360-degree surround vision, high connectivity, and situational awareness. In due course, the soldiers are the decision-makers as the mechanism cannot make decisions independently until now.

The industries geared up for the challenge hired experts in the field and introduced advanced technological set-up in the process. Over a week, each industry-tested its solution within a chain of complex operational scenarios. DDR&D’s team of experts evaluated the three concepts against the determined benchmarks. Numerous technological platforms were suggested for the future AFV which includes VR and AR mechanism, a combination of advanced sensors, AI technology to process information, and many more.

Elbit Systems provided combat soldiers with a technological concept in the upcoming AFV, activated using the Iron Vision “See-Through” Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). This idea was taken from the F-35 fighter jet which the industry developed.

The conception of this is strengthened by engaging self-directed capabilities and Artificial Intelligence (AI), to speed up decision making and support target engagement with exceptionally increased swiftness and accuracy.

More on, a Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) further improves competencies and survivability. The AFV productively revealed its ability to multifunction. It can work as an autonomous high fire-power strike cell, as a networked station for information fusion and multi-spectral sensing, as well as a base platform for operating additional unmanned systems.

RAFAEL’s model of the upcoming fighting vehicle allows two crew members to complete their mission, in a completely safe, closed hatch vehicle. The vehicle has a state of the art transparent cockpit design, facilitating 360-degree situational awareness, employing augmented reality for real-time battlefield data and information.

This includes other Points of Interest, Blue Forces and targets. An autonomous mission support system, for self-directed mission planning, driving, and real-time operation of all vehicle weapon systems, all based on combat AI capabilities further enhance the vehicle system.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) solution is different. It gives a blueprint following the company’s family tradition of robotic tool and autonomous systems which are widely used in Israel and around the world

The model proposed by IAI enables soldiers to control war machine using an Xbox like joystick while other features include a panoramic display and individual control screens. A central, autonomous system operated autonomous capabilities in the combat vehicle. The system merges numerous components in the platform and helps the human operative in handling information, concentrating on serious threats and making effective real-time decisions.

Previously, sailors have been using an Xbox controller to steer a $2.7-billion attack submarine for the U.S. Navy since at least March 2018.

As the devices are cheaper than custom-built controllers and soldiers know how to use them, the Xbox like controllers serves the purpose well. Israel is considering an Xbox-esque controller for its Carmel tank could be a hint that the devices are becoming a regular option for military operations.

AI technology in the platform enables to detect threats, active target engagement and weapon system administration as well as self-directed driving in several terrains.

In addition to the previously mentioned platforms, the DDR&D headed a program to build technology solutions that were not presented in the demonstration. These platforms combine the succeeding capabilities: cyber defense, active camouflage, a system to identify troops, hybrid propulsion, multi-task radar, and more.

Those platforms that have reached a cutting-edge stage in the development process are already being included in the AFVs, developed and built by IMOD Tank and APC Directorate.