Several reports have earlier mentioned the sighting of a UGV or Unmanned Ground Vehicle
that is being used by IDF or Israel Defense Forces to patrol the Gaza border round the
clock.
It is indeed true, Israel has developed a high-tech semi-autonomous UGV
Named ‘Jaguar’, the IDF claims it to be “one of the first military robots in the
world that can substitute combat soldiers”.
Developed jointly by the Israel Aerospace Industries’ Elta systems and IDF, it has
been designed to assume routine patrol duties for the Gaza division.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes why Israel's semi-autonomous robotic ‘Jaguar’
UGV is an excellent force multiplier?
Let's get into the details.
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The Gaza–Israel barrier is a border fence located on the Israeli side of the Gaza–Israel
border.
Israel started construction of the first 60 kilometers (37 mi) long barrier along its
border with the Gaza Strip in 1994.
From the Israeli point of view, the Gaza–Israel barrier was needed for internal security and
has been rebuilt and upgraded since.
It was constructed by Israel to control the movement of people as well as goods between
the Gaza Strip and Israel, which it could not achieve by normal border crossings.
The barrier has been effective in preventing terrorists and suicide bombers from entering
Israel from Gaza.
Since 1996, virtually all suicide bombers trying to leave Gaza have detonated their
charges at the barrier's crossing points and were stopped while trying to cross the barrier
elsewhere.
Jaguar has been conceptualized from the very beginning with an aim to save the lives of
soldiers who have to patrol the fence.
This new semi-autonomous robotic ‘Jaguar’ system will be able to detect and destroy
enemy targets remotely.
The six-wheeled unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) weighs only 1.5 tons and uses numerous high-resolution
cameras both for surveillance and to avoid getting stuck while driving on rough terrain.
The Jaguar’s sensor also allows it to operate in fog and dust, and the vehicle can automatically
recharge itself at a charging station with a simple command.
It also has a state-of-the-art communication system.
The armament—either a 7.62-millimeter FN MAG or 5.56-millimeter Negev machine gun with
400 or 500 rounds, respectively—is mounted on a stabilized Pitbull remote weapon system
made by Israeli firm General Robotic.
This weighs around 100 kg or 220 lbs pounds and allows accurate fire while on the move.
Cameras integrated into the Pitbull enable detection of a human being from up to 1.2
kilometers or 0.75 miles away in daylight, or out to 800 meters at night using a thermal
sight.
Importantly, Pitbull has Soft-Kill capability against drones and can induce a disruption
of all drones’ communication frequencies simultaneously – command, video and GPS
thereby forcing the drone to fall or return to base.
The Pitbull also has Hard Kill - track-and-fire capability for shooting down aerial drones.
It also can also be optionally equipped with sensors designed to pinpoint the sources of
incoming small arms and anti-tank fire, as well as employ a radar, though the IDF hasn’t
revealed to what extent it is deploying those capabilities.
But the armament is not limited to this one.
IDF has indicated that Jaguar can mount almost any weapon like rocket launchers as well as
less-lethal weapons and crowd-dispersal system.
This means that the system could potentially be employed in scenarios such as protests
or riots.
Decisions to use lethal force would be made by the operator using a “touch and fire”
interface, with the robot automatically adjusting its aim to track a moving target and correct
for accuracy.
It is to be noted that where necessary, pre-programmed scenarios enable the UGV to fire autonomously
Jaguar will be remotely operated by a human being, and would typically be put in a team
that will also include human soldiers.
In case, any risky scenario presents itself -Jaguar will be used to examine it with human
soldiers observing from a safe vantage point.
Jaguar is also fitted with a self-disabling device so that, in the event, one falls into
the hands of hostile forces, they won’t be able to recover any sensitive components.
As per reports, it also can transmit its coordinates so that it can be tracked and destroyed by
an aircraft or drone in case of any eventualities.
Israel claimed to have fought the world’s first “Artificial Intelligence War” against
Hamas earlier this year, saying it adapted the AI technologies available in the civilian
market for military intelligence.
AI was used in gathering data, using signal intelligence (SIGINT), visual intelligence
(VISINT), human intelligence (HUMINT), geographical intelligence (GEOINT) to guide the military
to carry out effective strikes.
Israel is also known for innovation in weapon systems and 'Jaguar' is one of them.
It is very likely that Jaguar will be integrated into the larger AI backbone of IDF in the
coming days.
The IDF has already indicated that it will eventually integrate the Jaguar into its conventional
war-fighting force and this is where value will be unlocked.