Niart Systems, an Israeli developer of radar and AI-based railway solutions, has appointed Vicki Elman as its new CEO.

Elman, who was previously the Vice President of Business Development, took on the role immediately, succeeding an interim CEO from ELTA.

Founded in 2024, Niart Systems specializes in railway safety and digitalization through its radar and AI technology. The system detects obstacles on tracks and provides real-time insights under various visibility conditions.

Elman has extensive experience in technology and product management. Before joining Niart Systems, she held senior positions in system engineering at Elta Systems. There, she contributed to projects like the Iron Dome air defense system.

🔗 Source: Calcalist

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Railway safety technology is accelerating amid industry-wide digital transformation

NIART Systems’ radar and AI-based obstacle detection system reflects a broader industry trend toward advanced digital safety technologies in railways.

The global Digital Railway Market was valued at USD 57.62 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.7%, driven by increasing demand for safer and more efficient transportation solutions 1.

This growth comes as the freight rail industry has already achieved its safest decade on record, with a 43% reduction in train accident rates since 2005 2.

NIART’s technology represents the next evolution in safety systems, as traditional railways increasingly adopt AI, IoT, and automation technologies to prevent accidents and reduce operational disruptions.

The timing is strategic as government initiatives supporting digital railway projects are expected to boost market expansion, creating favorable conditions for innovative safety solutions like those NIART is developing.

2️⃣ Defense-to-rail technology transfer emerges as innovation pathway

Vicki Elman’s background in developing the Iron Dome and other advanced air defense systems at Elta Systems demonstrates how military-grade technology expertise is being repurposed for civilian railway applications.

NIART Systems itself was formed as a joint venture with ELTA Systems in 2023, showing a deliberate strategy to leverage defense technology capabilities for railway safety 3.

This cross-sector technology transfer is producing impressive results, as demonstrated in Alstom’s test of NIART’s obstacle detection system that successfully identified objects at distances up to 500 meters away in all visibility conditions 4.