Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled OPAL Next Generation (OPAL-NG), the latest evolution of its decentralized airborne battle management solution designed to support 6th generation combat platforms and multi-domain operations. The new system builds upon the operationally proven OPAL architecture, introducing artificial intelligence-enabled decision support, enhanced manned-unmanned teaming capabilities and real-time decentralized command and control.

The new solution, which is being demonstrated publicly for the first time at ILA Berlin, represents more than a decade of continuous development and operational experience. OPAL has already been deployed across a wide variety of platforms, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), airborne early warning and mission aircraft, naval vessels and command centres.

Designed around an open, standards-based software-defined avionics architecture, OPAL-NG supports interoperability with NATO standards, including Link-16, enabling seamless data exchange and coordinated operations across air, land and maritime forces. The system provides a unified operational picture while facilitating real-time information sharing among distributed platforms.

A key enhancement of OPAL-NG is the integration of edge-based artificial intelligence, allowing data to be processed and prioritised directly on board each platform. This enables faster decision-making while reducing network latency and supports advanced manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) operations. The system enables unmanned platforms to function as extensions of manned aircraft by dynamically sharing sensing, electronic warfare, interception and strike missions throughout an operation.

The decentralized networking architecture also enhances resilience in contested environments by allowing participating platforms to continue collaborating even under degraded communications conditions. This significantly improves operational flexibility during complex multi-domain missions.

At the heart of OPAL-NG is its ability to generate a shared operational picture by exchanging not only tactical data but also voice communications, imagery, video and mission-level information in real time. By rapidly fusing information from multiple sensors, the system dramatically shortens the sensor-to-shooter timeline, enabling commanders and operators to identify, prioritise and engage threats within seconds.

The open architecture also allows armed forces to integrate existing mission systems, software-defined radios and national datalinks while providing the flexibility to develop indigenous applications tailored to evolving operational requirements without dependence on proprietary solutions.

Commenting on the announcement, Boaz Levy, Chairman of the Board of Israel Aerospace Industries, said future warfare would increasingly depend on interoperability, speed and seamless cooperation across multiple operational domains. He noted that OPAL-NG combines AI-enabled processing with enhanced collaboration between manned and unmanned platforms, enabling military forces to make faster and better-informed decisions in highly complex operational environments.

Yaacov Berkovitz, Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI Aviation, added that OPAL-NG fundamentally transforms how military forces conduct operations by creating a common operational picture across all participating platforms. According to Berkovitz, the system accelerates sensor-to-shooter timelines, improves coordination among distributed assets and enables operators to maximise the capabilities of both existing and future combat platforms through its flexible open architecture.

With OPAL-NG, IAI is positioning itself to address the growing demand for highly networked, AI-enabled battle management systems capable of supporting next-generation air combat concepts, including collaborative combat aircraft, autonomous systems and integrated multi-domain operations.