UAVs Are One Step Ahead in Gaza
15 January 2009 Rani Sneh - IDF Spokesperson's Office
http://dover.idf.il/NR/exeres/537834F5-35B8-4928-A743-659AE7FCDEBF.htm

The success of the IDF thus far in Operation Cast Lead is largely due to the
cooperation between different parts of the army-such as various brigades and
units. Thanks to the use of UAVs, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the IDF has
been attaining footage captured from the air, above the Gaza Strip, and
collecting data for the ground forces in Gaza.

Since the ground forces have entered the Gaza Strip, Sgt. Leiberman has been
operating a UAV team in a combined force with the Givati Brigade, and is
stationed in the operations room of the brigade. "We sit here with all of
the authorities and receive assignments directly from them," he says. In
addition to operating the UAVs from the operations room, the reconnaissance
division of the Givati Brigade, located in the Gaza Strip, is able to see
the video footage from the UAV through a screen instantaneously. "We are
talking to them and guiding them directly," says Sgt. Leiberman. He explains
that the most important task is accompanying the ground forces in the
territory. "When the forces enter and cross the border, the UAV flies 500
meters in front of them, clearing the area. We guide them and give them
advice regarding a safe point of entrance, what is risky and what is not."
Additionally, the UAV team collects intelligence information. A new task
that has recently been implemented is the management of coordination and
communication, which includes monitoring humanitarian efforts during the
hours of a ceasefire. "If wounded people are being evacuated, we escort them
and check that everything is okay; if they ask how many blockades there are
on the route that they're taking to seek medical care, we give them a
response within a few minutes."

The UAV team works with a number of authorities in the operations room and
it knows its tasks and combat procedures quite well. "The launching and
landing occur here, everything takes place here," says Sgt. Leiberman, "We
launch, we fly, we even take care of any technical problems." He explains
that the biggest advantage here is that they are operating the UAVs from the
operations room alongside the Givati Brigade. "Here, the moment we see a
force moving towards our forces, we immediately involve all the authorities
that are conveniently beside us at all times. It's a matter of seconds. We
are vital to the missions and very connected to our soldiers." Another
benefit of the UAV is the ease with which it operates. "It runs on batteries
that are recharged from here, the video footage is in color and it also
captures thermal images," explains Sgt. Leiberman. In addition, there are
military intelligence office that are helping to interpret the images.

"Overall, it is quite calm here in this area as compared to the others,"
says Sgt. Leiberman, "It is good that the forces aren't encountering too
much, and. I am happy to be accompanying our forces." The team has been
stationed in the operations room with the Givati Brigade for two weeks, and
Sgt. Leiberman says, "We are satisfied with the soldiers of Givati as they
are with us. The group is content."