IDF launches new smartphone to keep communication secure

The Israeli army has launched its first smartphone, developed in collaboration with Motorola and announced in a video on its Twitter feed on Sunday.

The new phone supports both 4G and military networks and enables soldiers to securely send classified visuals and footage from the field, the video said. No immediate additional information was released about the phone on Sunday.

The new phone was developed after Israel Defense Forces signed a $100 million contract with Motorola Solutions in January 2014 to produce new encrypted smartphones that would serve military personnel for the next 15 years.

The IDF said at the time that the smartphones would include a touchscreen, GPS and an eight-megapixel camera, and allow soldiers to send secure text messages, images and emails.

The Defense Ministry said at the signing of the contract that the phones would also be waterproof and dirt-resistant, and will have a battery that can last for up to 400 minutes of talk time and 500 minutes on standby.

The upgraded phones are meant to replace the “Mountain Rose” phone system used by the IDF — also developed by Motorola Solutions.