The Israeli giant of the military-industrial industry, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has signed a cooperation agreement with the promising Haifa startup Lulav Space. The goal is to jointly develop an advanced system for intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This was reported by sources close to the topic to the Globes publication. This project can be an important step in improving the effectiveness of protection against drones, especially in the face of the growing threat from small and low-flying UAVs.
A new approach to detection: vision instead of radar
Unlike traditional systems using radars or lidars, Lulav Space develops guidance and navigation systems based on image analysis and computer vision. These technologies make it possible to accurately determine the position and trajectory of objects in the air using optical sensors. According to the company, their solutions are lighter, cheaper and more energy efficient than their radar counterparts, which makes them ideal for integration into mobile and autonomous complexes.
Lulav Space was founded in 2021 by former engineers from SpaceIL's Beresheet 1 project, the first Israeli mission to the moon. The experience in space navigation allowed the startup to quickly enter the market and raise $ 1.5 million from the venture fund Angular Ventures.
Why is this important for Rafael?
For Rafael, known for systems such as the Iron Dome and C-Dome, collaboration with Lulav Space opens up access to innovative next-generation sensors. The integration of optical tracking systems can significantly improve the accuracy of drone detection and interception, especially in urban environments where radars often give false alarms due to interference.
Computer vision-based systems are better able to recognize the type of UAV, its behavior, and even distinguish civilian drones from potentially dangerous ones. This is crucial to reduce the risk of erroneous intercepts and increase reaction speed.
Market prospects
The joint development can be integrated into both existing air defense systems and new mobile electronic defense systems. Given the global growth of threats from drones, especially in military conflicts, such a product will be in demand from both the military and security services.
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