Chris Pocock has been covering the defense beat for AIN for over 30&nbsp;years. He is a British citizen and a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Chris worked in the air cargo business for ten years before becoming a full-time writer in 1983. He subsequently edited two air cargo journals before becoming AIN’s Defense Editor. He retired from that position in 2018, but still contributes to the publication. Chris has written extensively on aerial reconnaissance, including four books on the history of the U-2 spyplane. He also lectures on this and other topics related to intelligence-gathering in the Cold War.

Defense Correspondent

Chris Pocock

Prominently situated within Rafael’s building in the static display (A8) is this wall-mounted model of an F-16. It is carrying an entire suite of air-launched weaponry, all available from the Israeli company.


From left to right, the Python 5 all-aspect infrared-guided air-to-air missile (AAM); the I-Derby ER (extended range) AAM that is guided by active radar; the Spice 1,000-lb glide bomb, the Spice 2,000-lb bomb; the Litening 5 FLIR/TV/laser targeting pod; the Sky Shield electronic warfare (EW) pod; four Spice 250-kg precision-guided bombs on a Smart Quad Rack (SQR); another Spice 1,000-lb glide bomb; another I-Derby AAM and another Python 5 AAM&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;


Of particular interest, the Spice 250 is newly-developed and can be equipped with alternative precision guidance systems and warheads. It has a standoff range of 100 km. Like the Spice 1000, it can be guided by scene-matching, a technology that is usually found only on long-range cruise missiles. The Smart Quad Rack from which it hangs has its own datalink, allowing for target updates to be transmitted to the bomb after takeoff.


That large Sky Shield EW pod has not been shown previously. It provides high power over a wide frequency range in a 360-degree radius. The digital receiver can track complex emitters with high direction-finding accuracy. The multi-beam array transmitters are based on solid-state amplifiers. Sky Shield can protect an entire fighter formation, not just a single aircraft. It has already found an interested international customer.


As usual with Israeli exhibitors, Rafael is reluctant to disclose customers. But an adjacent information display discloses that these airborne weapons can be found on a wide range of platforms, namely the F-15, F-16, F-18, Super Tucano, L-39, Su-30, LCA (India), FA-80, Eurofighter Typhoon, Mirage 2000 and Rafale.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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