Israel Deploys AI Turret on the West Bank of the Jordan River

The Israeli authorities deployed a remotely operated turret on the West Bank of the Jordan River, capable of firing stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets. The report is from Haaretz.

As part of a pilot programme, the system was installed above a checkpoint in Hebron, where Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces frequently clash.

“As part of the army’s enhanced readiness to counter disorder in the area, consideration is being given to the use of remotely controlled systems to apply approved crowd-dispersal measures,” said a defence ministry spokesperson.

He added that the system does not include remote control of live-fire.

The turret was developed by the local defence company Smart Shooter. The company is working on autonomous weapon systems, including rifle attachments that compensate for a soldier’s inability or unwillingness to aim.

Smart Shooter also uses artificial intelligence systems to track targets and lock onto them. On the manufacturer’s site, the company says it “combines easy-to-install hardware with advanced image-processing software”.

The Hebron-installed turret is not listed on Smart Shooter’s online resource, but there is information about two other automated devices that could be equipped with an assault rifle.

In November 2021, former Israeli soldiers described the facial-recognition system deployed on the West Bank of the Jordan River. Authorities installed a sophisticated network of cameras across Hebron and tracked the movements of Palestinians using the Blue Wolf database.

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