"Unmanned Aerial Tools Cannot Replace Well-Secured Supply Convoys"
A source from the IDF’s Technological and Logistics Directorate reveals that
systems are useless without Israel’s own development of actual tanks

Arie Egozi 28/5/2012
http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=1294

“All of the cumulative measures developed for unmanned aerial systems in
Israel today for supplies to combat units in combat zones cannot substitute
regular supply convoys that are well secured,” says a senior source from the
IDF’s Technology and Logistics Division.

The source also explained that developments like powered cargo parafoil,
unmanned aircraft, and unmanned helicopters are tools that can, in the
future, serve special forces, or what he called, "specific needs." However,
currently, they cannot substitute convoys of trucks and tankers.

"The measures now being developed in the field of unmanned vehicles are
especially useful in cases where there is no sequence for supplying ground
forces," said the source.

The source added that the army's logistics personnel trained to carry out
their mission in an effort to open the safe and effective axes "are fighters
who seek contact with soldiers waiting for them to get water, food, and
ammunition."

Today in Israel, there are efforts to develop unmanned aerial vessels to
supply forces at the front and for evacuation. One of them is the air mule
being developed by Urban Aeronautics and the other is the Flying Elephant –
a motorized parachute charger developed by Elbit Systems.