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Israeli Drones Have Downed Hundreds of Arson Balloons from Gaza
(Ha'aretz) Sagi Cohen - During 2018, Israeli communities adjacent to Gaza came under a relentless assault of hundreds of explosive and incendiary kites and balloons. In response, the Israel Defense Forces called up for reserve duty 15 of the most experienced drone operators to intercept the balloons. Over several months, the experts downed hundreds of kites and balloons, controlling the drones intuitively with virtual-reality goggles that provide the operator with the drone's point of view. A new drone operating system enables soldiers with very little training to fly drones. "We eliminated the concept of control by means of sticks," said Rubi Liani. "We reduce two years of training into five minutes. Soldiers arrive, and within 10 minutes of training they start downing balloons in Gaza," Aviv Shapira added. Takeoff and landing are performed automatically.