Elbit Systems To Supply An Unidentified International Customer With The Red Sky Very Short-Range Air Defense System
Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense company, announced last week that it had signed a contract worth about $50 million with an unnamed international customer for its new Red Sky very short-range air defense system (VSHORAD). Elbit Systems will provide the mystery user with two Red Sky batteries over the course of two years, according to the contract.
Elbit Systems General Manager Yoram Shmuely issued a statement on the subject, saying: “The Red Sky system represents a state-of-the-art solution that addresses the urgent need to defend borders and secure strategic assets against a wide array of aerial threats at an affordable cost. This new defense solution was created based on close collaboration between Elbit Systems’ divisions, utilizing existing Elbit Systems building blocks and integrating them into a comprehensive new solution with new anti-aircraft missiles and advanced soft-kill defense mechanisms.”
Red Sky is a Tactical Very Short-Range Air Defense (VSHORAD) System developed by Elbit engineers to defend against low-altitude air threats. This solution consists of several components that detect, identify, locate, and neutralize unmanned aerial systems in a variety of applications and terrains, including the protection of airports, ports, strategic facilities, military bases, and VIP convoys. The first system that stands out from these components is Elbit Systems’ ReDrone.
The ReDrone anti-drone system detects, identifies, tracks, and neutralizes various types of drones that operate using various radio frequency communication protocols. The anti-drone system, which consists of the company’s advanced DAiR Radar, signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensors, COAPS-L electro-optical (EO) payload providing an advanced integrated air picture, and high-end electronic attack capabilities, communicates with the drone’s operator when it detects a target. It intercepts its communications, blocks radio and video signals, as well as GPS positioning data, and throws it off course, preventing it from carrying out an attack.
Aside from ReDrone, the Red Sky system includes anti-aircraft missile launchers, a battery target acquisition radar, a central surveillance radar, a C2 system, and advanced communication capabilities to ensure seamless coordination with fire units. The system’s components can function independently or integrated. Consequently, the system allows for flexible deployment based on the user’s operational needs.