Global, Ground War
The Asio Orion navigation system is used by the IDF. (Asio)
JERUSALEM — Israeli soldiers who went to Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack carried the usual equipment that infantrymen have carried for decades, from rifles to radios. But in these new urban battles, many brought newer, high-tech equipment. It’s a 3D navigation tool that is the biggest test yet in a vast conflict.
The device, called Orion, is manufactured by the Israeli company Asio and is designed to allow soldiers to find their way, “see” friendly forces, and maneuver in real-time in a 3D visualization environment fed by images. ing. Military version of the popular Waze transportation app.
Asio CEO David Harrell told Breaking Defense that the Israel Defense Forces’ current operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, known as the Iron Sword, involves thousands of Orion devices being deployed to “maneuver ground forces. “It truly revolutionized the way we plan and execute operations.” ” Mr. Harel was told by the commander of the Israel Defense Forces, “Other than rifles, [Orion] This is the most common system on the battlefield. ”
The system has been in use in the Israel Defense Forces for six years, but the current conflict in Gaza marks the country’s first entry into large-scale, complex ground combat operations.
“This is the first major war” for the system, Harrell said. “This demonstrates how important and effective Orion is in maneuvering forces, and we’re getting feedback from all over.”
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The concept is to provide up-to-date maps in the palm of a soldier’s hand through a device. The map can be combined with recent aerial photography and other digital techniques to create a life-like 3D visualization of him. According to the CEO, it will operate on and off guard, enabling real-time navigation, situational awareness, and “calculating courses of action and planning and communication between units.” It also features augmented reality, which overlays digital information onto the real world.
Israeli soldiers explore the Orion 3D navigation app by Asio. (IDF)
In a discussion with Breaking Defense, Harrell demonstrated how the system can be used to plan attacks against simulated enemies in villages. He said the device allows troops to analyze detailed terrain that cannot be seen with binoculars, for example, before conducting an attack in an unfamiliar area. A slight rise in terrain (almost imperceptible to the human eye, but immediately visible on a device) could mean soldiers can approach buildings with cover, and maps and features Using , subtle benefits become apparent. Soldiers can also use Orion to plan where enemy forces, such as snipers and RPG teams, are located and analyze the best way to achieve their objectives.
Harel said it is an effective tool in complex environments like Gaza, where the terrain changes as troops move in and out of urban areas.
More broadly, the technology is part of the IDF’s push to modernize its military for a new era of digital warfare.
“The soldiers on the battlefield today are digital soldiers, they have smartphones, so this is how we build our systems,” Harrell said.
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Like many Israeli companies based on real-world combat experience, Asio was founded by an Israeli Defense Force commander with an engineering background. Harrell said the founders sought to bring first-hand experience to support dismounted infantry.
“This is done by equipping them with cutting-edge technology to ensure mission planning, execution and reporting,” he said.
Harrell said many of the company’s employees were called up to the reserves in October following the Hamas attack. Wearing uniforms, they encountered the products they had developed.
