IAI Corporation Unveils Katana Unmanned Boat

7
February 6 in New Delhi (India) opened the exhibition Defexpo 2014. Several dozen companies from around the world brought their latest developments to this event. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel a few days before the start of Defexpo 2014, told about its new project Katana, which is planned to be demonstrated for the first time during the show.



In the framework of the “Katana” project, Israeli engineers have created a light multi-purpose boat with remote control. According to the authors of the project, the promising craft will be able to perform various tasks related to patrolling the water areas, searching for and even destroying targets. The project of an unmanned boat was named in honor of the Japanese sword. According to a press release from the IAI Corporation, this name was chosen to show the speed, reliability and lethality of the new boat.

Prospective Katana unmanned boat has a length of about 12 meters and a maximum width of no more than 2,8 m. According to reports, the power plant includes two engines, thanks to which it is capable of speeds up to 60 nodes. In addition, the use of two engines can significantly increase the survivability of the unmanned vehicle in a real battle, because if one of the engines is damaged or lost, the boat will be able to maintain mobility.

Of greatest interest are the electronic systems that are equipped with a new multi-purpose boat. It is alleged that he carries a satellite navigation system, remote control equipment, as well as a whole range of various means of observation. The operator of the complex, depending on the conditions and tactical need, will be able to monitor the surrounding environment of the boat with the help of several cameras and thermal imagers. The signal from the cameras in real time is transmitted to the control panel. If necessary, the operator of the complex can climb aboard the boat and control it with the help of traditional controls, for which Katana is proposed to equip with a small crew cabin.

Following the trends of recent years, the authors of the project IAI Katana built a new unmanned boat on a modular system. Depending on the tasks to be assigned and the wishes of the customer, the boat under construction can receive one or another variant of the complex of electronic equipment, which includes the required equipment. Similarly, it is planned to equip the boat weapons.

Unfortunately, the authors of the project are not in a hurry to disclose the detailed characteristics of the Katana complex, although they told about some of its capabilities. The new remote-controlled boat will be able to patrol the waters near the coast and at a small distance from it, for example, in the exclusive economic zone of the state. Thus, the main task of a promising unmanned system can be the protection of various objects: ports, naval bases, oil platforms, underwater pipelines, etc. military and civil structures. At the request of the customer the Katana boat will be able to get the necessary type of weapons. Thanks to this, an easy multipurpose boat can not only find potentially dangerous objects and targets, but also attack them. What kind of weapons will be installed on new boats, has not yet been clarified. Probably, an unmanned boat can be equipped with remote-controlled combat modules with a machine gun, automatic cannon or anti-tank missiles.

It is known that the project IAI Katana involves the use of various electronic equipment designed to exchange information and control commands. For example, the complex "Katana" can use satellite communication systems. When using such control channels, the operator can be far away from the boat. According to representatives of the corporation IAI, when the boat performs its tasks in the Pacific, its operator can comfortably sit in Israel.

The Katana unmanned boat is currently undergoing tests and has not yet been adopted by the Israeli naval forces. However, it is the Israeli navy that is considered the starting customer for new multi-purpose remote-controlled craft. A few years ago, the Israeli Navy began operating a similar system, the Rafael Protector, which, as is clear from the available information, has lower characteristics than the Katana boat. Thus, the new unmanned boat should be of interest to the Israeli Navy.

The IAI Katana project is also of interest to foreign customers. The naval forces of many countries need light patrol boats and the Katana can be a profitable offer for them. At a higher cost compared to “classic” boats, a remote-controlled boat is simpler and cheaper to operate, and is also capable of performing some tasks not available to them.

Testing of the unmanned IAI Katana unmanned boat is currently ongoing. The timing of their end is still unknown. For this reason, at the moment, most of the characteristics of the new Israeli design remain unknown. Apparently, potential customers will be able to familiarize themselves with detailed information about the project only after the end of the test. In the meantime, potential buyers and the general public will have to be content with the official press release, a small demonstration video and other promotional materials.


On the materials of the sites:
http://iai.co.il/
http://defense-aerospace.com/
http://defense-update.com/
http://ynetnews.com/
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  1. coserg 2012
    0
    7 February 2014 10: 34
    For the article (+). Similar boats were in service with our BDK even 40 years ago. When landing, when the shore was heavily fortified, these radio-controlled boats stuffed with explosives, flying to land and exploding, made passages in the enemy’s barriers. After that, into this passage and the marines come with their equipment.
    1. +1
      7 February 2014 23: 53
      Quote: coserg 2012
      For the article (+). Similar boats were in service with our BDK even 40 years ago. When landing, when the shore was heavily fortified, these radio-controlled boats stuffed with explosives, flying to land and exploding, made passages in the enemy’s barriers. After that, into this passage and comes with its own technique the marine corps

      Were they capable of autonomous patrolling?
      1. coserg 2012
        +1
        9 February 2014 20: 36
        I can stop such autonomous patrolling with an ordinary chain mail network. Either self-destruct or you (boat) are mine.
  2. +2
    7 February 2014 10: 51
    Belarusian-Russian-Chinese unmanned boat.
    Link: http://people.onliner.by/2013/11/25/kater
    1. +3
      7 February 2014 11: 14
      Quote: Petergut
      Belarusian-Russian-Chinese unmanned boat.

      Thanks for the link. Loved the non comments.
      Is there any order information?
      1. 0
        7 February 2014 12: 27
        Quote: professor

        Thanks for the link. Loved the non comments.

        Zmagars, such zmagars. For them, even if a person is sent to the sun, Lukashenko will be to blame for everything. laughing

        Quote: professor

        Is there any order information?

        According to the director of LLC “QUAND IS” (Minsk) Sergey TYTSYK, there are no competitors in the unmanned boat yet. On the market, only a few global companies make similar products at the industrial level - they work in Israel and the USA. It is also known that several unmanned boats are produced in several European countries, but these projects are classified. Therefore, it is not worth talking about competition in the CIS market.
        Experts noted that this is a non-profit research project. After Minsk, a water car will be presented in Moscow and Beijing. Applications for it already have from around the world. Therefore, after the vessel passes the test, it will begin to be produced in series.
        “Today it is a scientific project, not a commercial one,” said Sergey Tytsyk. - It is very important for Belarus that we are involved in a product of the level of superpowers.


        Link: http://www.aif.by/social/item/25704-bespilotniy-kater.html


        Ps I, as a citizen of Belarus, would like to note that the first show of the boat took place in Minsk. And this is no coincidence. It is believed that the main violin in the project was played by the Belarusian side. Of course, modern composites and a high-quality cockpit are far from the last in this vessel, but it was the Belarusians who developed the software, made the automatic control system and integrated it into the drone.
        1. +2
          7 February 2014 17: 22
          Applications for it already have from around the world.

          Marketing however ... wassat If there was at least one application, then he would have called it, IMHO.

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