Israel's terrifying arsenal of robot weaponry: Machine-gun pickups, remote-control boats and unmanned attack bots are among the IDF's tool-kit as Iran claims its top nuclear scientist was killed with a remote-control gun
Israel is one of the world's foremost users of drone technology on the battlefield, with remote-control pickups, boats and backpack drones at its disposal.
The IDF has been using the technology since at least the mid-2000s, mostly to conduct patrols along its border with Gaza.
While many of the vehicles are unarmed, they can also be equipped with machine guns and missiles which can be fired remotely.
As a result, Israel is one of the world's largest exporters of drone technology, selling unmanned vehicles worth a total of $4.6billion in 2013, mostly to Asia and Europe.
MailOnline took a look at the Israeli arsenal after Iran claimed a satellite-controlled gun mounted on a pickup truck was used to take out Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, their top nuclear scientist, and pointed the finger of blame at Israel...
1. Machine-gun pickup truck
The IDF showed off this technology in 2016, when it was fitted into Ford F-350 pickup trucks that were designed to conduct border patrols.
The trucks, dubbed Border Protector Unmanned Ground Vehicles, are equipped with an array of sensors and cameras that allowed people to drive them remotely.
The IDF unveiled Ford F350 pickup trucks that could be controlled remotely in 2016, saying they would soon be outfitted to carry machine guns that could be fired remotely
At the time they were unveiled the trucks were unarmed, but the IDF said it was hoping to arm the vehicles some time in early 2017.
'We will get a machine gun on the vehicle that will be operated from a control room,' an IDF official told Fox News at the time.
The IDF said the vehicles have been operational since 2015, and would later incorporate driverless technology.
2. Remote-control boat
The Protector boat was developed in Israel by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and put into service around 2005.
Unmanned and unarmed, the boat was initially used to conduct routine surveillance missions without putting crews at risk.
The Rafael Protector remote-control boat entered service around 2008, and was later retrofitted to be able to fire missiles
Rafael later adapted the boats to fire rockets, the Times of Israel reported, with the Navy carrying out successful test-fires of the weapons in 2018.
Some of the navy’s unmanned ships come equipped with machine guns and water cannons, which are controlled remotely.
3. Self-driving attack vehicle
The AvantGuard unmanned ground combat vehicle was designed in Israel by G-NIUS systems and entered into service in 2010, Army Technology reports.
The vehicle was primarily designed for surveillance, route patrol, reconnaissance, and the detection and destruction of IEDs.
The AvantGuard unmanned ground combat vehicle is designed to detect and destroy IEDs, but can also be equipped with a machine gun turret
It is equipped with ground radar to help it detect explosive devices, and a counter IED jammer, that blocks radio signals sometimes used to detonate the devices.
The AvantGuard can also be mounted with a 7.62mm remote-controlled machine-gun, which is operated from a control centre.
4. Unmanned reconnaissance vehicle
One of the oldest robots in Israel's arsenal, the Guardium - also developed by G-NIUS - entered service in 2008.
Small, unmanned and unarmed, it was designed specifically for border patrol and reconnaissance missions that soldiers were deemed to valuable for.
The Guardium is a self-driving reconnaissance vehicle that is used for border patrols, but can also be equipped to carry weapons
The vehicles are equipped with infrared cameras, radars, high-sensitivity microphones, cameras and hostile fire indicators in case they come under attack.
They can also be equipped with lethal and non-lethal weapons, including light machine guns.
5. 'Backpack' drone
The Elbit Skylark is an unarmed drone that is small enough to fit in a backpack and can be launched by hand
An aerial drone small enough to be carried in a backpack and launched by hand, the Elbit Skylark has been in use since at least 2008.
Developed in Israel, it has been used by armed forces around the world, including by French special forces Australia, Canada the Netherlands and Sweden.
The drone is too small to carry weapons systems and is instead armed with both regular-spectrum and infrared cameras to increase troop visibility and provide target acquisition data for airstrikes.
It has seen active duty in Israel as part of Operation Protective Edge, and has also seen service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
6. Missile drone
The Hermes 450, developed in Israel by Elbit Systems, is again designed primarily as a reconnaissance drone - but can be equipped with missiles.
Typically, the Hermes carries regular-spectrum and infrared cameras for day and night vision, and laser designators to pick out target for airstrikes.
The Hermes 450 was designed to carry an array of sophisticated missile systems, but has reportedly be retrofitted to carry at least two missiles
The Israeli Air Force has also reportedly adapted a squadron of these drones to carry two Rafael or Hellfire missiles each.
While Israel has never confirmed this capability, it has never denied it either.
The drone is also fully automated, and flies itself from take off until landing.
Paid for by the US taxpayer?
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