Israel’s new Ariel ELA-6992 Robotic Combat Task Force closes sensor-to-shooter loop for coordinated combat operations.

At the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) 2024 exposition, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), through its ELTA Systems Group, presented the Ariel ELA-6992 Robotic Combat Task Force. This system is designed to operate networked autonomous platforms, including both ground vehicles and light aerial units, in coordination with conventional combat forces. The Ariel ELA-6992 system is intended to carry out complex, high-risk operations that can extend to battalion and brigade-level engagements.
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Through the Ariel's graphical interface, field commanders and operators can define and adjust mission parameters and rules of engagement. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The central component of Ariel is the Automission system, which handles mission planning and execution management. Through a graphical interface, field commanders and operators can define and adjust mission parameters and rules of engagement. Automission monitors the operational environment, analyzes data, and coordinates task execution by the autonomous platforms, with oversight from human operators. In cases where ground conditions shift, the system can replan missions and, upon approval, update tasks across the network, redistributing roles if a platform becomes non-operational.

The Ariel system operates within an integrated Battle Management System, providing real-time threat alerts, command updates, and intelligence-sharing capabilities with other battlefield commanders. It continuously monitors personnel and operational surroundings, aiming to enhance situational awareness and minimize the risk of friendly fire. The system supports a variety of mission types, including situational awareness, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) tasks, and countermeasures against drones, mines, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Ariel also includes a human-in-the-loop feature for remote lethal actions, where operators can authorize engagements.

Automission monitors the operational environment, analyzes data, and coordinates task execution by the autonomous platforms, with oversight from human operators. (Picture source: IAI)

At the company level, Ariel is structured around four primary components. The Automission system is responsible for planning, data analysis, and activating effectors on platforms using AI and machine learning. The Task Command Operation System oversees operational events, communicates with Automission, and provides operators with mission control and visibility. The autonomous platforms themselves—equipped with effectors, sensors, and secure communications—perform maneuvers, operate sensors, and execute tasks according to manned-unmanned teaming (MUM/T) guidelines. Finally, a high-bandwidth, cybersecure Communication Network facilitates data transfer across all components.

The Ariel's design enables it to define and adapt missions in real-time based on ground events. It collects and fuses sensor data to produce intelligence relevant to its missions, issues alerts on potential threats, and tracks friendly forces' movements to avoid friendly fire incidents. Additionally, the system can respond to threats automatically and efficiently close the sensor-to-shooter loop, streamlining the response process.