Building on the operational heritage of the legacy OPAL, the Next-Gen solution introduces AI-enabled decision support, enhanced manned-unmanned teaming capabilities, and real-time multi-domain operations, while building on a proven operational foundation already deployed across a broad range of platforms, including fighter jets, UAVs, naval vessels, and command centers, with seamless interoperability with NATO standards, including Link-16
OPAL-NG will be demonstrated for the first time at ILA Berlin at the Company booth
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is unveiling OPAL Next Generation (NG), the latest evolution of the Company’s airborne decentralized battle management solution for 6th generation platforms.
Building on over a decade of continuous development and on-going operational experience, OPAL-NG is based on the legacy OPAL that supports interoperability with NATO standards, including Link-16, and is already deployed across a wide range of platforms, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, mission & AEW aircraft, naval vessels and command centers.
This Next-Gen architecture further expands the legacy OPAL system’s core capabilities as a network-centric, standards-based Software Defied Avionics, enabling seamless interoperability, real-time data sharing and unified multi-domain situational awareness across air, land, and naval forces.
OPAL-NG introduces new key advancements including the integration of edge-based artificial intelligence, enhancing real-time data processing, prioritization and decision support at the platform level for enhanced manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) capabilities. Enabling unmanned platforms to operate as an extension of manned assets, OPAL-NG allows to dynamically share sensing, electronic warfare, interception and strike functions through continuous real-time collaboration during mission execution. The extended evolution of the legacy OPAL includes real-time decentralized network, supporting faster and more resilient multi-domain operations in complex and challenging environments.
Boaz Levy, IAI’s Chairman of the Board: “Future combat will be defined by interoperability, speed and the ability to operate as a cohesive, multi-domain force. OPAL-NG reflects our long-term investment in advanced battle management solutions that connect platforms, systems and operators into a single operational framework. By introducing AI-enabled processing and
enhanced collaboration between manned and unmanned systems, we are enabling faster, more informed decision-making in increasingly complex operational environments.”
Yaacov Berkovitz, EVP & GM, IAI Aviation: “OPAL-NG fundamentally changes how forces operate by creating a shared operational picture across platforms and domains. The added capabilities further strengthen real-time operations, enabling faster sensor-to-shooter cycles and more effective coordination between distributed assets. With its open architecture and flexibility, OPAL-NG allows forces to integrate existing systems, while further enhancing their operational capabilities on existing and new platforms.”
At its core, OPAL-NG creates a shared operational picture between platforms, allowing them to exchange, in addition to data, also high-quality voice, imagery, video and mission-level insights in real-time. This capability enables all participating platforms to operate based on a common operational picture, significantly improving coordination, effectiveness and survivability. The system shortens the sensor-to-shooter cycle by transforming large volumes of multi-source data into actionable insights within milliseconds, supporting time-critical targeting and dynamic mission execution.
Designed as a standard based, open architecture framework, OPAL-NG allows customers to integrate existing systems, datalinks and software-defined radios, while also enabling the independent development of operational applications tailored to indigenous and evolving mission needs.
In the picture: Opal illustration
