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RAFAEL's UAV gets a New Name

RAFAEL Announces Name Change for Canister-Launched Mini UAV

28 April 2004 -- Due to the great level of interest exhibited by potential customers in Rafael's revolutionary concept of its canister-launched mini-UAV, and in an effort to avoid further confusion, with an aim to distinguish the product from a product with the same name belonging to another company, RAFAEL Armament Development Authority Ltd announces the change in name of its unique mini-UAV from Skylark to Skylite.

"We feel that this product deserves a special identity of its own," says Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, VP Marketing and Business Development at RAFAEL. "Due to its ability to be shoulder-launched from a canister, unlike other mini-UAVs in the market today, the Skylite is the perfect reconnaissance solution for crowded urban areas.

The Skylite is a man-portable, canister launched loitering observation system that weighs 6.5kg and is 12cm in diameter. The drone is shoulder-launched by a booster or small rocket engine. Following launch, the Skylite's wings (1.7m wingspan) snap into flight position powered by an electrical motor. The retrievable drone is equipped with a stabilized camera that provides wide area coverage and point-of-interest monitoring. It can operate at a distance of up to 10 kilometers and loiter over the target area for more than 60 minutes, providing real-time target imagery, in direct support of the combat formations.

During recent flight tests, the Skylite was successfully launched from a canister, attained the required altitude, followed the pre-programmed mission way-points and reported effectively from each of the way-points. Following the flight, the Skylite landed at a prearranged point, at which time it was collected by the RAFAEL team.

RAFAEL designs, develops, manufactures and supplies a wide range of advanced defense systems for all branches of the Israel Defense Forces and other Armed Forces worldwide. These leading edge products are based on RAFAEL's vast technical and operational experience. In addition to its defense technologies, the company has also formed partnerships with civilian counterparts to develop commercial applications based on its proprietary technology. RAFAEL has a workforce on nearly 5000 employees and registered sales of $830M in 2003.

For further information please contact
RAFAEL public affairs. Tel: 972-4-8791244