War on terror

Israel: Elbit Systems and Bagira develop new anti-terror simulators

Some years ago realizing the changes in the shape of wars, a base was adapted to become the main training place of soldiers in anti-terror actions. Underground warfare, tactical breaching, and robotics are just a few of the specializations that the Lotar Counter-Terror School teaches IDF soldiers. These instructors are responsible for training all IDF units in counter-terrorism. They are combat soldiers who train others and, if needed, take part in operational activities.

The other body in the forefront of anti-terror is the Special operation unit of the border police (YAMAM). This unit is now considered one of the most advanced anti-terror units in the world. The training and simulation tools used by this unit are highly classified. Last year, a unique facility has been opened in the heart of the Judean Desert, near Ma’aleh Michmash, a few miles north east of Jerusalem. The site looks like a Hollywood set: huge greenhouses, exact copies of the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, of a street leading from the Old City of Jerusalem, and part of the Sharona restaurants and store center in Tel Aviv, Arie Egozi describes. All these places saw terror attacks in which Israelis were killed. The training area was established with attention to the smallest detail up to the level of authentic smells and muezzin voices playing in the background.

In order to reduce gaps in the handling of the expanding phenomenon of tunnels, the IDF expanded the underground training facilities in all the commands. Today, almost all brigade training bases and commands have infrastructure for underground training. Some of the installations were built above the ground, but they simulate the time and the fighting in tunnels while others were dug underground. The IDF has acquired weapons that will help the forces in the battalions to neutralize tunnels more easily and quickly, without the need to wait for professional forces, while infantry forces have developed drills for handling subterranean compounds, even by artillery forces. In December, the IDF uncovered five tunnels that had been dug from Lebanon into northern Israel. They were destroyed by explosives or by filling them with concrete and other materials.