RAFAEL is a world-renowned, Israeli-based defence contractor, specializing in cutting-edge, innovative defence systems, such as the famous TROPHY active protection system, vehicle armour solutions, counter IED technologies and many other systems.
The company is Israel’s third largest defence company, with 8,000+ employees and over 30 subsidiaries worldwide, serving the defence, security and aerospace markets. RAFAEL is a truly global organization, with a strong presence in many major defence markets; this includes the US, India, South Korea most European NATO member countries, including the UK, as well as throughout Asia, Scandinavia, and South America.
“This acquisition is part of RAFAEL’s continued strategic investments, with the purpose of transferring cutting-edge, state-of-the-art technologies, products and systems into the United Kingdom, in support of UK national security and prosperity”, says M.G (ret.) Yoav Har Even, RAFAEL’S President and CEO. “Until recently, most of RAFAEL’s operations in the UK were in partnership with UK prime contractors, with the majority of workshare manufactured in Israel. Pearson and Responsive Engineering’s activity is supported by an outstanding legacy of excellence in innovation. By acquiring this company, we will be able to enhance and expand Pearson Engineering’s manufacturing capabilities in the UK, thus strengthening our UK supply chain to better support our customers, especially the UK MOD and British armed forces. This will lead to a significant increase in the number of jobs in Newcastle and will build strong links with academic institutions throughout the UK and specifically in North East England.”
“Pearson Engineering is immensely proud of its life-saving combat engineering systems, which are used by land forces worldwide. This acquisition will not only allow us to enhance our existing product portfolio but will enable the development of innovative, class-leading products and capabilities. RAFAEL’s ambition for Pearson and Responsive brings valuable growth and stability, for our employees, our trusted supply partners in the region and the wider community in the North East. It will undoubtedly create more jobs and generate exciting career opportunities within both companies”, says Craig Priday, Pearson Engineering Managing Director.
“Both RAFAEL and Pearson have an outstanding legacy in force protection capabilities”, says Dr. Ran Gozali, EVP, GM Land and Naval Division for RAFAEL. “RAFAEL’s reactive armour, fitted to most UK armoured vehicles in Iraq, saved the lives of many British soldiers. The UK MOD Challenger 3 program is another point of synergy. Pearson and Responsive are manufacturing the tank’s turret structures and, supported by RAFAEL, Pearson will be able to locally manufacture and integrate the TROPHY active protection system, providing the highest level of protection to the crew. This is a great example of RAFAEL’s commitment to deliver additional cutting-edge technologies and capabilities to Pearson Engineering, to support current and future UK MOD needs.”
Our battle proven minefield breaching products provide armoured vehicles with the capability to defeat anti-tank mines. Whether intended for deliberate breaching or to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for fighting vehicles, our blast-resistant ploughs give Commanders the option to move unimpeded and in doing so, maintain a battlefield advantage.
Our earth loading capability delivers a powerful digging and carrying ability, enabling armoured vehicles to transport materials, clear obstacles, dig and fill trenches and to assist in construction tasks. Our loaders can be provided with varying degrees of function and therefore complexity to support different mission sets.
Our interrogation capability is rooted in providing additional capability for Counter-IED and Route Proving operations. To supplement physical detection from ground engaging roller systems, our interrogation arm can be used to further understand the nature of threats and to identify where risks may be present outside of the path of the roller.
Our obstacle and earth moving products include general purpose and multi-purpose dozer blades, designed specifically to meet the needs of different mission sets. Our blades are designed to be tough, robust and lightweight, enabling a wide range of obstacle and earth moving activities whilst minimising the impact on the vehicle’s mobility.
Typically used alongside Pearson Engineering’s Route Opening Mine Plough, Surface Clearance Device or Route Proving rollers, our highly configurable obstacle marking systems support battlefield mobility by quickly and reliably marking safe lanes and the edge of hazardous areas.
Our excavation capability is designed to support combat engineer operations such as digging, demolishing, removing obstacles and filling trenches to support Area Access and Area Denial.
Our approach is often described as a ‘Swiss Army Knife’ in that host vehicles can be adapted to take on various combat engineering roles, or to overcome challenges to mobility. Integration of our products with the vehicle is made via a Pearson Engineering Direct Fit Interface or Pearson Engineering Quick Connect. The most suitable integration method depends on the mission requirements and vehicle capabilities. Our engineers will work closely with end-users and vehicle manufacturers to define the most appropriate route to minimise the impact on the vehicle and to maximise operational capability. Decisions are often based on hydraulic and electrical availability as well as the required role of the vehicle. Our integration kits are used to fit products that are designed to enhance armoured vehicle agility, tactical flexibility and adaptability. They are designed to be configurable and to deliver ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ to operations.
Our recovery capability includes a range of dedicated and multi-purpose blades which are primarily designed to support the recovery of other vehicles and for moving of heavy obstacles. A powerful ground-engaging blade sinks into the earth to hold a vehicle static, acting as the force against which the obstacle can be pulled. The same blade can be articulated to provide some obstacle and earth moving capability.
Surface laid mines represent a rising threat as Armed Forces turn their attention to near peer conflict. Our solutions, each designed to support the missions of dedicated combat engineer vehicles or fighting vehicles, provide a comprehensive detect and displace capability to support deliberate clearance or self-extraction in the face of air delivered scatterable mines.
Our highly configurable rollers have saved countless lives, limbs and assets on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and have succeeded in ensuring ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ for soldiers around the world. Provided as either a full-width ‘route proving’ variant to actively check routes for the presence of Improvised Explosive Devices, or as a track-width ‘self-protection’ variant, our rollers are designed specifically to meet the needs of wide-ranging operational requirements. Our continued Research & Development and our approach to customisation provides confidence to those who use them.
Like all of Pearson Engineering’s products, our assault gap crossing solutions are designed to be modular, to be interchangeable with other mobility and counter-mobility equipment and to support ‘freedom of manoeuvre’ on the battlefield. In a time when units are tasked to ‘march divided and fight united’, independent manoeuvre support is key.
Our range of Mine Clearance platforms and tools provide Armed Forces and other organisations with scalable solutions for mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal and the defeat of improvised explosive devices. Our platforms and their tools can also be used to create mobility challenges for adversaries. Proven around the world, these mine clearance platforms and their tools are designed specifically to meet the needs of different operational contexts from large area clearance to support logistics and peace keeping operations through to clearance in complex terrain.