Bluebird Aero Systems Ltd. yesterday dedicated its new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) factory at Kadima, which cost NIS 5 million to build. The new 2,000-square meter plant will employ dozens of workers for the development and production of advanced electronic systems and mini tactical UAVs.
Bluebird president and CEO Ronen Nadir founded the company in 2002. One of the company's UAVs weighs just one kilogram and can be launched within minutes from any location without the need for prior infrastructures or preparation. The UAV provides tactical mapping on demand services in near real-time.
The size and weight of the UAV, combined with the advanced command and control capabilities jointly developed with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. enables the UAV to provide simple and effective solutions for homeland security applications, such as the protection of national infrastructures and energy lines, mass incident control, and locating hostile parties in an urban environment. The UAVs also have civilian applications, including traffic control, aerial observation of mass events, security of installations, and forest management.
Bluebird is a portfolio company of Athlone Global Security Ltd., which specializes in homeland security companies. Athlone is a US-Israeli holding company founded by IDF Major General (res.) Doron Almog. It owns 30% of Bluebird, after investing $7 million in the company last year.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 13, 2008
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2008