Israeli Military Industries (IMI) is offering the Indian Army bombs capable of piercing concrete, fortresses, and bunkers. The bombs will be displayed this week at the Aero India 2003 defense exhibition in Bangalore, in southern India. The bomb, called the PB-500, was developed in the main IMI ammunition laboratory.
The bombs are capable of piercing the most highly sophisticated fortifications, such as those surrounding nuclear missile launching bases. In contrast with ordinary bombs, containing only a body and an explosive payload dropped on the target from an airplane, the PB-500 includes a laser guidance system, developed by Israeli Aircraft Industries and Elbit Systems (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE:ESLT).
IMI claims that the bomb can penetrate two meters of concrete, and that its explosive payload causes damage equivalent to that of a bombing with twice the weight.
IMI will also display its MSOV system at Aero India 2003. This is a bomb that can glide on a predetermined path for over 100 km. The bomb is designed for ground targets, such as armored and infantry formations, and airfields. The system includes an accurate navigating system, developed by IMI’s missile division unmanned aerial vehicle plant.
Another system being exhibited in India this week is an anti-tank anti-personnel (ATAP) bomb. This is a cluster bomb dropped from an airplane, designed to strike at infantry and armored vehicles. The bomb’s sub-munitions include a self-destruct mechanism, which minimizes the risk to friendly forces entering the area after an attack.
IMI said that the bomb meets the Ottawa Treaty standard, since the self-destruct mechanism also prevents injuries to civilians entering the battle area at a later stage. The company added that it was the only company in the world that had succeeded in developing such a mechanism, while “The competitors had failed in all their attempts.”
At the Aero India 2003 opening, IMI chairman Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Arie Mizrachi said that Asia was high on his company’s list of priorities. He added that IMI was planning to increase its R&D budget, and would invest $20 million in R&D in the coming working year. Last month, “Defense News” reported that 40% of Israeli weapons exports were to Asian countries.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 2, 2003