Spike Firefly drone & Eitan APC: Israel's defence industry unveils brand new weapons PHOTO/VIDEO

Over the past few years, several new types of military equipment have been introduced to the Israeli army, which is now undergoing its first combat test in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and the northern border. The most modern technologies were used in the creation of these weapons.

According to Detaly.co.il, this is, for example, a miniature quadrocopter called Maoz or Spike Firefly in foreign classification. It is produced by the Rafael concern and is designed to destroy enemy forces. Such quadrocopters belong to the type of barrage munitions, they are also called kamikaze drones.

Once in the air, the Maoz detects a cluster of enemy infantry and dives in its direction.

The Maoz is designed to equip every special operations squad or team. The combat kit includes three quadrocopters and a system for controlling them using a reinforced tablet. During combat in urban environments, a soldier can launch the Maoz and direct it precisely in the direction of enemy cover.

The drone weighs 3 kilograms and can stay in the air for up to 15 minutes. Its range is 500 metres, its dive speed is 70 kilometres per hour, and all warheads are 350 grams. Maoz is equipped with a twin-rotor engine that does not make much noise.

The drone can be controlled manually with a tablet or automatically by giving it precise target coordinates. If the attack is cancelled, it returns to the launch site. Commercials show Maoz swooping down on cars and flying into windows.

The next piece of military equipment currently undergoing its first combat test in the Gaza Strip is the Eitan, an 8x8 armoured personnel carrier replacing the outdated M-113 APC.

Unlike other similar vehicles in IDF service, the Eitan does not use tank chassis. It is a wheeled armoured personnel carrier, not a tracked one.

Thanks to an automatic inflation system, wheeled armoured personnel carriers remain mobile even after being hit by anti-tank weapons. They are equipped with powerful motors and each of their eight wheels is driven.

The Eitan armoured personnel carrier weighs 30-35 tonnes and can reach speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour. The Eitan is distinguished by its high manoeuvrability both on rough terrain and in urban areas.

The crew of the armoured personnel carrier consists of 12 people: commander, driver, machine gunner and nine soldiers. The vehicle is equipped with a gun and a heavy machine gun, which can be controlled from the cockpit using a joystick.

In front of each crew member, there is a 14-inch screen that transmits images from the all-round camera, which can "see" at night. In addition, the Eitan is equipped with an active anti-tank defence system.

The prototype of the new armoured personnel carrier was presented in 2016, and its serial production began a year ago. The Eitan received its baptism of fire on October 7, when soldiers of the Nahal Brigade engaged terrorists who had landed from the sea near the Zikim coast.