The Weizmann Institute of Science has chosen a local supplier to build a space telescope.

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On Wednesday, Elbit Systems Ltd. announced it had won a roughly $16 million contract to supply a telescope to the institute under Israel's Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT) program to observe and research deep space.

The ULTRASAT program is jointly managed and funded by the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Israeli Space Agency and is carried out in association with Germany's DESY research center.

Elbit Systems will develop, manufacture and integrate a highly sensitive, wide field of view (200 square degree) ultraviolet space telescope designed to help scientists understand the creation of heavy elements, black holes and gravitational waves and discover astronomical phenomena such as supernovas (star explosions).

Elbit Systems has provided space cameras, satellites and other electronic instruments of its production to space programs in Israel, the US, Europe, South Korea and Brazil.

The Weizmann Institute contract will be performed over a period of two years.

Oren Sabag, General Manager of Elbit Systems ISTAR & EW, commented: "We are proud to take part in this scientific endeavor lending our capabilities and experience to the effort to better understand nature."

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Israeli startup XTEND, a provider of tactical drones for defense, national security, public safety, and industrial inspection markets, has contracted with the US Department of Defense on a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) called SKYLORD XTENDER, the company announced Tuesday.

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According to XTNED, its SKYLORD XTENDER provides a "unique, human-centric 'machine interface technology' that enables operators and first responders to remotely intervene in dangerous situations, from a safe distance, via drone by virtually 'sitting inside' the small sUAS."

The technology is designed to reduce human interaction with dangerous environments.

The SKYLORD XTENDER platform allows any operator with little or no flight experience to perform specific remote tasks in complex environments. In addition, the company reports that its sUAS is capable of approaching a target site from any location, performing recon and data collection tasks with extreme accuracy, and seamlessly exit the danger zones, agnostic of any indoor-outdoor transition limitations.

Aviv Shapira, XTEND co-founder and CEO, explained that "Hyper enabled drones are the future of engagement for dangerous situation worldwide. The IDF has recognized XTEND's family of products called SKYLORD as one of the most effective technologies for urban warfare missions, specifically indoor and close-quarters combat.

"The SKYLORD XTENDER is one of our most advanced drone platforms and harnessing it under this initiative will help the US Department of Defense save lives and ensure mission success in any combat scenario," Shapira added.

Company co-founder Matteo Shapira said that the SKYLORD XTENDER platform was "so intuitive" that users could be trained to operate it in under an hour.

"Whether it's a soldier scanning a building for enemy fighters, locating snipers, or providing ISR on a suspected enemy stronghold, our goal in developing this technology was to minimize the danger to human life," Matteo said. "No matter the operator or situation, when you use our extended VR technology, you can rest assured that even the most dangerous missions are as safe as possible."

The US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC) and Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD) has partnered with Israel's Defense Minister and Directorate of Defense Research & Development to contract with XTEND to deliver multiple, tactical sUAS platform prototypes to the tactical units for Operational Testing and Evaluation (OT&E) starting this year.

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While global media coverage of Operation Guardian of the Walls remains largely focused on the fate of Gazans and the thousands of rockets hitting Israel, many news sites across the world have also dedicated considerable airtime and coverage to the achievements of the Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, which has intercepted hundreds of projectiles fired by terrorist groups at the population centers in the Jewish state.

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The reason for the special attention isn't just the system's impressive 90% success rate, but also the unprecedented video footage of dozens of simultaneous mid-air interceptions.

Several prominent news outlets in the US, including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Fox News and Vox, have all run lengthy articles about the Iron Dome and its accomplishments. 

"As Hamas rockets rain on Israel, Iron Dome proves it can withstand the barrages," the Wall Street Journal said in its headline. 

The New York Times said in its headline: "Fire and thunder fill the night sky as Israel's Iron Dome is tested."

The Washington Post said critically in a headline that "Israel's Iron Dome defense system protects Israeli lives. It also perpetuates the Israel-Gaza conflict."

The Iron Dome Aerial Defense System has one purpose—to intercept rockets mid-air before they can kill Israeli civilians.

We will not apologize for saving lives. pic.twitter.com/J0U8ct9bCt

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 18, 2021

In other countries, however, the excitement over the system's achievements is painted in a different light.

The Greek City Times, for example, reported that Greek government officials in Athens were considering procuring the missile defense system and that its "purpose demo" during the fighting had reinforced the views of those who want to purchase the system.   

With that, however, the widespread coverage of the Iron Dome system has also come with drawbacks, mainly affecting Israel's public relations efforts. 

As the system's effectiveness becomes more pronounced, so do claims from within certain circles that its existence negates Israel's justification for carrying out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, which they argue are disproportionate to the threat. 

Last Week Tonight host John Oliver and Trevor Noah, the host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show, were among those to voice this point of view.

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