Rafael Developing Armament for F-35 Stealth Fighter

The story of the development of the Iron Dome system has become a myth among defense industries in Israel and abroad. Within two and a half years, Rafael developed the rocket interception system, which became operational at record speed, achieving amazing interception percentages on the battlefield.

Dr. Tuvia Ronen, Rafael's VP and Director of the RD&E Center, Missiles & NCW Division, headed the pyramid, parts of which executed the Iron Dome project in a manner that will be taught at management and weapon system development schools. Dr. Ronen claims that the Iron Dome was developed as a response to an existing threat, but the company always attempts to establish the future threats facing the IDF and provide solutions for them.

"Take our Spike missile family, for example," says Ronen. "This missile family consists of several models, from a small, personal missile launched by a solitary trooper, to the long-range version that may be launched from helicopters as well. In any future conflict, these missiles will be used extensively."

Ronen says that “Rafael is like a boutique. We develop weapon systems, some of which are manufactured only for the IDF in small numbers. In the United States, it's more like a supermarket. Everything is manufactured in large numbers, for the US military as well as for US allies around the globe."

Where do the people of the RD&E Center at the Missiles Divisions get their ideas?
"A constant process of interaction is underway between the people of Rafael and the IDF commanders. These are the advantages of a small country. The officers come to Rafael and Rafael comes to them, and at the end of the process an idea is selected for implementation. For example, the 'Red Alert' system that warns of rocket launches was born as a result of an idea by several employees. We encourage independent creative thinking. It gives us a tremendous advantage."

Confidential Projects
One of the primary projects at Rafael is the development of a sixth-generation air-to-air missile, as a derivative of the David’s Sling missile for intercepting medium-range missiles. This has been revealed recently by the chairman of Rafael's board of directors, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Ilan Biran, in an interview published in Issue No.8 of IsraelDefense. Dr. Ronen does not reveal any additional details, but one could gather that Rafael's activity in the air-to-air field is intensive, and that some developments are truly revolutionary.

While details are publicized worldwide regarding the development and use of armed UAVs, capable of performing strikes against ground targets, details concerning the development of such systems have become available in Israel (regarded as a UAV superpower) to this day, despite numerous references in foreign publications. Dr. Ronen preferred to speak generally about "the adaptation of electro-optical systems, originally designed to be used on aircraft, for use on UAVs."

Another relevant adaptation involves Israeli weapon systems for the F-35 stealth fighter, which the IAF will receive in a few years. On stealth missions, the F-35 carries its armament internally, so as not to compromise its stealth characteristics. "We are studying the subject," concludes Tuvia Ronen, and in this case, too, it is almost certain that we will see adaptations of existing weapon systems to the new aircraft.

"The Genetic Code"
Dr. Ronen commands a huge development organization, with 1,600 engineers and technicians under his management. "Most of them grew up inside Rafael, and came to us from academia, after completing their studies in the various disciplines," he says.

"This large concentration of technical know-how enabled us to carry out the Iron Dome project in record time," says Ronen. "In this case, we had no building blocks we could use to find shortcuts. Here, everything was developed from the ground up, but our diversified cadre of engineers and technicians provided us with the ability to accomplish the mission," adds Ronen. He reveals that the development team of the rocket interception system consisted of 100 to 200 people, who, according to him, "cut themselves off from the world and only lived for the project," which was so vital for the security of the inhabitants of Israel's southern region.

How long would a development project like that take in the US?
"At least 10 years," says Ronen. "Rafael takes more risks in the development process. When rockets are fired into the southern region, development processes are cut short. The scientists know that sometimes they have to work not strictly 'by the book', as the threat is not a theoretical one, but a very real one, causing death, injury and damage."

Dr. Tuvia Ronen further states that he always sees to it that each development team include at least one serious 'ace' – an engineer with proven credentials. "Sometimes, I transfer such people from project to project, according to urgency. It always works."

Sometimes, the brilliant ideas come from experience. "In one case, my people were racking their brains over a certain solution. Suddenly, one of them remembered that he had come across the solution in the context of his final university thesis. What this thesis contained was promptly converted into a practical solution. We have here a process of cross-fertilization on the highest level, and everyone takes part in this process."

Dr. Ronen frequently mentions the "genetic code" of Rafael, those characteristics without which it would have been impossible to execute such breakthrough projects. "I always team up the veterans with someone younger, so that he may learn and absorb the knowledge. This is a part of our 'genetic code', sharing and preserving knowledge, as the challenges we expect to face in the future will only be more substantial."

At the entrance to the building housing Rafael's Missiles Division in the northern part of the country, there is a display of missiles developed by the company. This missile avenue that welcomes every guest is impressive, although it obviously does not include those missiles that carry a 'Top Secret' badge.

"There is no such missile avenue anywhere in the world," says Dr. Tuvia Ronen, and indeed, there are missiles of every type and size there, most of them 'proven in combat'. This is an achievement with very few equals.

Today, Tuvia Ronen's people are hard at work perfecting methods for the rapid development of weapon systems. With all their motivation and experience, they also need a method that would save time.

But, all of the mathematical models notwithstanding and despite the interaction with the IDF, when the Iron Dome development team needed just one extra push to finish the project, Ronen took them on a trip to Sderot. Their encounter with the need on the ground did the trick immediately.