RAFAEL Armament Development Authority
Encyclopedia
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. (Hebrew
: רפאל - מערכות לחימה מתקדמות בע"מ, formerly: RAFAEL Armament Development Authority), known as RAFAEL or Rafael, (also spelled as Raphael or Rephael; Hebrew acronym of "Authority for the Development of Armaments" - רשות לפיתוח אמצעי לחימה) is an Israeli defense technology company
. It was founded as Israel’s National R&D Defense Laboratory for the development of weapon
s and military technology
within the Ministry of Defense; in 2002 its was incorporated as a limited company
.
Rafael develops and produces fighting-technologies for the Israel Defense Forces
as well for exporting abroad. All current projects are classified.
Rafael was established in 1948 as the Science Corps under the leadership of Shlomo Gur, and was renamed to the Research and Design Directorate in 1952.
In 1952 David Ben-Gurion
decided to split into two the activities of HEMED; the entity HEMED was on charge on the pure scientific research, and the new baptized entity EMET dedicate itself to the development of weapons .
In 1954 Ben-Gurion decided to change the name of the entity EMET for RAFAEL. It was finally reorganized as Rafael in 1958.
In 1995, Yitzhak Rabin
asked Amos Horev
to become Chairman of the Board of Rafael, following many years in which Horev had served as chairman of Rafael's advisory committee. Horev served as Chairman until January 2001.
The restructuring was completed in 2002 when Rafael was formally incorporated as a limited company
(although still as a government-owned corporation
), while maintaining its technological capabilities through extensive investment in R&D programs (of about 10% of turnover). In its first year as a limited company, Rafael earned a $37 million profit on $830 million in sales.
On October 14, 2007 the company changed its name from Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
company, was established as a joint venture with Elron Electronic Industries
; in order to commercialize applications based on defense technologies for medical devices, telecommunications, and semiconductor industries. The company has successfully established and developed several companies including:
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: רפאל - מערכות לחימה מתקדמות בע"מ, formerly: RAFAEL Armament Development Authority), known as RAFAEL or Rafael, (also spelled as Raphael or Rephael; Hebrew acronym of "Authority for the Development of Armaments" - רשות לפיתוח אמצעי לחימה) is an Israeli defense technology company
Defense contractor
A defense contractor is a business organization or individual that provides products or services to a military department of a government. Products typically include military aircraft, ships, vehicles, weaponry, and electronic systems...
. It was founded as Israel’s National R&D Defense Laboratory for the development of weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s and military technology
Military technology
Military technology is the collection of equipment, vehicles, structures and communication systems that are designed for use in warfare. It comprises the kinds of technology that are distinctly military in nature and not civilian in application, usually because they are impractical in civilian...
within the Ministry of Defense; in 2002 its was incorporated as a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
.
Rafael develops and produces fighting-technologies for the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
as well for exporting abroad. All current projects are classified.
History
In 1952 David Ben-Gurion
David Ben-Gurion
' was the first Prime Minister of Israel.Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, led him to become a major Zionist leader and Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization in 1946...
decided to split into two the activities of HEMED; the entity HEMED was on charge on the pure scientific research, and the new baptized entity EMET dedicate itself to the development of weapons .
In 1954 Ben-Gurion decided to change the name of the entity EMET for RAFAEL. It was finally reorganized as Rafael in 1958.
In 1995, Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin
' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....
asked Amos Horev
Amos Horev
Amos Horev is an Israeli former Israeli Defense Forces major-general, Chief of Ordnance and subsequently Quartermaster General and Chief Scientist of the IDF, military expert, nuclear scientist, President of Technion University, and Chairman of Rafael.Horev has served on and headed a number of...
to become Chairman of the Board of Rafael, following many years in which Horev had served as chairman of Rafael's advisory committee. Horev served as Chairman until January 2001.
Restructuring as a limited company
During the early 1990 Rafael was operating at a loss (picking in 1995, with a loss of $120 million on a turnover of $460 million), therefore it was decided to restructure the organization and start operating Rafael as a company. Initially creating three discrete divisions; each operating as a profit centre, with a separate balance sheet presented to the newly formed management board.The restructuring was completed in 2002 when Rafael was formally incorporated as a limited company
Limited company
A limited company is a company in which the liability of the members or subscribers of the company is limited to what they have invested or guaranteed to the company. Limited companies may be limited by shares or by guarantee. And the former of these, a limited company limited by shares, may be...
(although still as a government-owned corporation
Government-owned corporation
A government-owned corporation, state-owned company, state-owned entity, state enterprise, publicly owned corporation, government business enterprise, or parastatal is a legal entity created by a government to undertake commercial activities on behalf of an owner government...
), while maintaining its technological capabilities through extensive investment in R&D programs (of about 10% of turnover). In its first year as a limited company, Rafael earned a $37 million profit on $830 million in sales.
On October 14, 2007 the company changed its name from Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd. to Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
Technological achievements
- ShafrirShafrirThe Rafael Shafrir 1 and Shafrir 2 are short-range air-to-air missiles developed by the Israeli arms manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, formerly RAFAEL Armament Development Authority....
(later renamed Python) - one of the most successful air-to-air missiles ever made (during the 1973 Yom Kippur WarYom Kippur WarThe Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
, the IAF launched 176 Shafrir 2 missiles, destroying 89 enemy aircraft).
- SpikeSpike (missile)Spike is a fourth generation man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile with tandem-charged HEAT warhead, developed and designed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and in service with a number of nations....
is a fourth generation fire-and-forgetFire-and-forgetFire-and-forget is a third-generation method of missile guidance. The military uses the term for a type of missile which does not require further guidance after launch such as illumination of the target or wire guidance , and can hit its target without the launcher being in line-of-sight of the...
anti-tank guided missileAnti-tank guided missileAn anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....
.
- PopeyeAGM-142 Have NapThe Popeye is an air to ground missile developed and in use by Israel, of which several types have been developed for Israeli and export users. A substantially modified long range cruise missile variant of the Popeye Turbo is believed to be used to arm the Israeli submarine based nuclear forces...
is an air-to-ground missile system. Popeye Turbo SLCM is believed to be a nuclear-tipped submarine-launched cruise missile.
- Iron DomeIron DomeIron Dome is a mobile air defense system in development by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells. The system was created as a defensive countermeasure to the rocket threat against Israel's civilian population on its northern and southern...
- The world’s first operational air defense system to intercept short-range rocketRocketA rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s and artillery shells.
- Trophy - The world’s first operational active protection systemActive protection systemAn active protection system is a system designed to prevent sensor-based weapons from acquiring and/or destroying a target....
, successfully destroyed an anti-tank missile launched from the Gaza StripGaza Stripthumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
toward a MerkavaMerkavaThe Merkava is a main battle tank used by the Israel Defense Forces. The tank began development in 1974 and was first introduced in 1978. Four main versions of the tank have been deployed. It was first used extensively in the 1982 Lebanon War...
Mark IV tank near Nir OzNir OzNir Oz is a kibbutz in southern Israel. It is located in the northwestern Negev desert between Magen and Nirim, and covers 20,000 dunams. Nir Oz is under the jurisdiction of Eshkol Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 348...
.
- Protector USV - The world’s first operational Unmanned surface vehicleUnmanned surface vehicleThe term unmanned surface vehicle or autonomous surface vehicle refers to any vehicle that operates on the surface of the water without a crew. USVs have been tested since World War II but have been largely overshadowed. This is due to the fact the USVs, such as the OWL Mk II surveillance drone,...
(unmanned, autonomous naval combat system).
Civilian technology transfer
In 1993, Rafael Development Corporation (RDC), a technology transferTechnology transfer
Technology Transfer, also called Transfer of Technology and Technology Commercialisation, is the process of skill transferring, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among governments or universities and other institutions to ensure that...
company, was established as a joint venture with Elron Electronic Industries
Elron Electronic Industries
Elron Electronic Industries is a technology holding company based in Haifa Israel; since 1962 the company has been involved in setting-up, funding and developing over 30 companies and is considered one of the foundation stones of the high-tech industry in Israel...
; in order to commercialize applications based on defense technologies for medical devices, telecommunications, and semiconductor industries. The company has successfully established and developed several companies including:
- Given ImagingGiven ImagingGiven Imaging is an Israeli medical technology company that manufactures and markets diagnostic products for the visualization and detection of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract....
(NASDAQNASDAQThe NASDAQ Stock Market, also known as the NASDAQ, is an American stock exchange. "NASDAQ" originally stood for "National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations". It is the second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization in the world, after the New York Stock Exchange. As of...
:GIVN) - a pioneer in the sphere of capsule endoscopyCapsule endoscopyCapsule endoscopy is a way to record images of the digestive tract for use in medicine. The capsule is the size and shape of a pill and contains a tiny camera. After a patient swallows the capsule, it takes pictures of the inside of the gastrointestinal tract...
. - Starling Advanced Communications (TASE:STLG) - provider of broadband wireless networking solutions for airlinerAirlinerAn airliner is a large fixed-wing aircraft for transporting passengers and cargo. Such aircraft are operated by airlines. Although the definition of an airliner can vary from country to country, an airliner is typically defined as an aircraft intended for carrying multiple passengers in commercial...
s. - Galil Medical - a developer of cryotherapyCryotherapyCryotherapy is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy or the removal of heat from a body part. The term "cryotherapy" comes from the Greek cryo meaning cold and the word therapy meaning cure...
solutions. - SELA Semiconductor Engineering Laboratories - a provider of automated sample preparation tools for semiconductor manufacturers, sold to Camtek Intelligent ImagingCamtek Intelligent ImagingCamtek Ltd. is an Israel-based manufacturer of automated optical inspection systems and related products. Products are used by semiconductor fabs, test and assembly houses, and and printed circuit board manufacturers...
. - 3DV Systems - developers of the ZCamZCamZCam is a brand of time-of-flight camera products for video applications by Israeli developer 3DV Systems. The ZCam supplements full-color video camera imaging with real-time range imaging information, allowing for the capture of video in 3D....
, a time-of-flight cameraTime-of-flight cameraA time-of-flight camera is a range imaging camera system that resolves distance based on the known speed of light, measuring the time-of-flight of a light signal between the camera and the subject...
products for videoVideoVideo is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
applications, sold to MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. - Medingo - developer of a micro pump insulin delivery system consists of two parts: a semi-disposable insulin dispensing patch and a remote control, which allows for discreet personalised insulin delivery. The company was sold to Hoffmann-La RocheHoffmann-La RocheF. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. is a Swiss global health-care company that operates worldwide under two divisions: Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. Its holding company, Roche Holding AG, has shares listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange....
's subsidory Roche DiagnosticsRoche DiagnosticsRoche Diagnostics Division is a subsidiary of Hoffmann-La Roche which manufactures equipment and reagents for research and medical diagnostic applications. Internally, it is organized into five major business areas: Roche Applied Science, Roche Professional Diagnostics, Roche Diabetes Care, Roche...
for $160 million as well as up to $40 million in milestone payments.
See also
- Israel Defense ForcesIsrael Defense ForcesThe Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
- Military equipment of IsraelMilitary equipment of IsraelThe military equipment of Israel includes a wide array of arms, tanks, planes, cannons, armored vehicles. Many of these are purchased overseas. Up until the Six-Day War of 1967, the Israel Defense Forces' principal supplier was France, since then, it has been the United States government and...
- Israel Military IndustriesIsrael Military IndustriesIsrael Weapons Industries , formerly the "Magen" division of the Israel Military Industries Ltd. is an Israeli firearms manufacturer. In 2005, the Small Arms Division of IMI was privatized....
- Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)
- Israel ShipyardsIsrael ShipyardsIsrael Shipyards is one of the largest shipbuilding and repair facilities in the eastern Mediterranean. The company also operates the first and only privately owned port in Israel....
- Elbit
- El-Op
- SoltamSoltamSoltam Systems is an Israeli Defense company located near Yokneam. The company has been developing and manufacturing advanced artillery systems, mortars, ammunition and peripheral equipment since 1952. Soltam Systems serves armed and special forces in more than 60 countries...