Search

This article states that Israel's military prowess has long rested on dominating the radio-frequency spectrum, and now researchers are pressing to expand that level of information acumen into new domains. Laser technology and measurement and signature intelligence (Masint) are the latest areas where Israeli's defense industry can give the military an edge. Advances in the underlying technology, coupled with military imperatives, are driving these developments.

This article explains that the factors influencing Israel's military and intelligence-gathering include preparing for the next war, analyzing the last war, better managing defense spending, and envisioning what the nation's military should look like in a decade. At the top of Israel's military concerns are a rearming Hezbollah force in southern Lebanon, Hamas's control of the Gaza Strip and Iran's nuclear program. From those diverse threads, Israel wants to weave five-year budgets that provide stable funding for a self-renewing, high-tech defense.

The article reports that defense forces of Israel are setting up standards for air support to ground maneuver operations after learning lessons from the military campaign in Gaza in 2014. It informs that Israel forces had launched ground maneuver into Gaza to locate and destroy 32 tunnels dug by Hamas from Gaza into Israel territory. It informs that tension has also been rising along the Israeli-Lebanese border.

The article considers military robotics. The Sahar, an autonomous robot being developed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for detection and disposal of improvised explosive devices (IED) is discussed. Resistance to the use of military robotics by armed forces is discussed, and Isabel Okashi, an executive of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) says it is based on psychological factors.

The article focuses on Israel's defense budget. Topics addressed include the defense budget's decline from the 1990s to 2010 in terms of its estimated share of the gross domestic product (GDP), Israel's obligation to buy much of its military hardware in the U.S., and programs that have the highest priority for national defense. Spending on salaries, pensions, rehabilitation and compensation for fallen service members' families and border protection costs are also mentioned.

The article explores Israel's defense exports, which totaled a surprising record of 7.47 billion U.S. dollars in 2012. It indicates that many of the country's defense exporters face decreasing market share and growing international competition for defense programs. The article also predicts that those with the best chances of prospering are contractors with air-defense systems and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), with Israel as already the largest provider of UAS in the world outside the U.S.

The article discusses military developments in the Middle East as of late July 2013. It focuses on the move by the Israeli government to implement a significant reduction in its armed forces due to perceived reduction of threats from its neighbors like Syria and Egypt. The opinion of Israeli Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon on the developments is also cited.

The article focuses on the Saar S-72 warship produced by the defense industries firm Israel Shipyards. The ship's status as a mini-corvette equipped with guided missiles which will function as an offshore patrol vessel (OPV) is discussed in relationship to Israel's need to protect offshore natural gas drilling platforms in the Mediterranean Sea. Specifications of the S-72 are offered.

The article considers special electronics mission aircraft (SEMA), electronic surveillance airplanes operated by Israel's air force (IAF). Israel's use of models of the Gulfstream G550 business jet airplane for SEMA is discussed. Military electronics provided to the SEMA planes by defense industries company Elta are examined.

The article focuses on the Iron Dome antimissile missile system operated by Israel's armed forces. The performance of Iron Dome in a November, 2012 conflict with the Hamas Islamic organization which governs the Gaza Strip is examined, particularly the system's ability to detect which rockets fired by Hamas were likely to strike populated areas.

The article examines the role of military electronics and computer networks in tactics by Israel's armed forces. The armed forces deployment of command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems is examined, as is its work to incorporate precise map references in targeting weapons, which is seen as essential in urban and irregular warfare.

The article reports that Israel's armed forces will begin testing of a modified version of its Arrow ballistic missile defense system, including testing of the Arrow 3 interceptor missile in September 2012. Itzhak Kaya, director of the Arrow program for Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), expresses optimism and enthusiasm for the testing.

The article discusses Israels' decision to purchase the M-346 advanced jet trainer, made by the Italian aerospace company Alenia Aermacchi, instead of the T-50, made by Korea Aerospace Industries, and examines the effects of the decision on Israel's relations with South Korea. The article looks at the possibility that South Korea could cancel defense contracts with Israel. South Korean officials have complained that the competition favored Alenia Aermacchi.

The article focuses on plans to expand the role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) by Israel's military. It talks about the electric-powered tilt-rotor reconnaissance UAV by Israel Aerospace Industries which was designed to operate behind enemy lines. It mentions that advances in powerplant design, increased payload weight, and size reduction in sensors packages is improving the viability of UAVs. It comments on the potential use of UAVs in directed energy, electronic, and cyberattacks.

The article examines design and construction of drone aircraft by the defense industry company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and their use by Israel's armed forces. Yair Shamir, Chairman of the Board of IAI, states that the need to use many drone aircraft in asymmetric warfare means that producing them at a low cost is a priority. Shamir also stresses the need for stealth technology in drone aircraft.

The article examines the use of drone aircraft for military surveillance and reconnaissance by Israel's armed forces. The use of the Eitan/Heron 2 drone aircraft in surveillance of illegal arms transfers in the Red Sea area is discussed. The expansion of the operations performed by Israel's drone aircraft due to technological improvements in their equipment is considered.

The article discusses the training of German air force drone aircraft pilots by Israel's armed forces. The pilots are being trained in the use of the Heron 1 drone aircraft produced by Israel Aerospace Industries, which will be used in German armed forces intelligence operations in the Afghan War. Several of the Israeli armed forces officers who are training the pilots praise their progress in the program.

The article reports that Israel has agreed to purchase 20 of the F-35 jet fighter planes being developed by the U.S. and the aerospace industry firm Lockheed Martin. Israel agreed to the purchase after the U.S. agreed to install Israeli made weapons and alter the plane's electronics systems to accommodate Israeli electronic warfare components.

The article examines procurement of the F-35 jet fighter plane made by Lockheed Martin by Israel's armed forces. Anonymous Israeli government officials indicate that there is considerable debate on whether the country should purchase more than its original order of 19 of the fighter planes. Opponents argue that the money spent on the expensive planes could be better used to upgrade existing military airplanes.

The article focuses on Israel's military decision-making and budget-planning processes. It states that the Israeli military's methodology is a rolling five-year fiscal plan that they update and refresh yearly, beginning with an intelligence assessment on threats and forecasts. It mentions that real-time intelligence is increasingly important for military decision-making and requires cooperation between operational and intelligence elements.

The article reports that Israel is preparing the deployment of its Iron Dome short-range missile defense system, aimed at preventing unguided rocket attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip. The system was produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Each battery of the system offers protection to an area of approximately 60 square miles.

The article examines procurement of the F-35 jet fighter planes by Israel's armed forces. Israel may purchase fewer of the planes than it had previously planned due to the costs involved with the plane's stealth technology. Israel is developing electronic warfare systems based on active electronically-scanned array radar that could protect its airplanes which lack stealth technology.

The article reports that the government of Israel is increasingly concerned that the Hizballah militia in southern Lebanon has acquired and is deploying M-600 model guided missiles. The missiles are equipped with a Global Positioning System-based inertial navigation system, making them capable of accurately striking targets anywhere in Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces have redeployed military airplanes as far south of Lebanon as possible.

The article reports on the examination being made by Israel on the military's roles, missions and technology during the ceasefire imposed by the United Nations (UN) between the country and Lebanon. The fighting in Lebanon is already triggering debate in Israel about the division of missions between its air force and army. Both U.S. and Israeli military officials doubt that UN or Lebanese troops can disarm Hezbollah.

Reports on the Israeli Air Force's options for a mix of F-15E variants and F-16A/Bs from the United States Air Force. Quantities needed; Sale of modification kits.

Quotes Maj. Gen. Giora Romm, the Israeli defense attache to Washington, who said the Israeli air force will choose between F/A-18s or more F-16s this summer as Israel plans to acquire more than 20 or 30 aircraft. Operational requirement to emphasize improved effectiveness over longer ranges, day and night; Operational capabilities of the F-15XP the US sold to Saudi Arabia.