Advancements in Israel’s Military Technology: Ensuring Security and Prosperity in a Challenging Region

Earlier, this year, I conducted this study within the Defense course organized by the Israeli Studies Center in Bucharest. Although there are many aspects to take into account, I believe it can provide an insight into what the defense industry of Israel entails and how its position necessitates advanced military capabilities.

The strong essence in a small teritory

This research discuss about the military technology of Israel, including its unique needs and capabilities that can be useful for governments, organizations, policymakers, and academics studying warfare, politics, international relations, and military defense technologies in order to make informed decisions that could influence global conflict resolution strategies. The research highlights the importance of understanding how a small nation has been able to maintain a strong military presence in a volatile region and to foresee what ideologies will prevail in the states now receiving high-grade American weapons technology, infrastructure and training. The Israel's technological innovations have had an impact beyond its borders, with many of its systems being used and studied by other nations. For an accurate image, “Israel is a high-tech superpower and one of the world's top weapons exporters with approximately $6.5 billion in annual arms sales and since 1985, Israel is the world's largest exporter of drones, responsible for about 60 percent of the global market, trailed by the US, whose market share is under 25 percent. Its customers are everywhere — Russia, South Korea, Australia, France, Germany and Brazil. Finally, analyzing Israel's military technology can help shed light on broader issues related to military innovation, research and development, and strategic planning. As well, despite Israel's small size, about 4.5 percent of its GDP is spent on research and development, and 17 percent of the US R&D is for the military. By the Israel’s strategic location, surrounded by nations that have historically been hostile to its existence, the strong military capabilities are seen as essential for its survival and safety. This has led to a focus on military technology and innovation, both to provide effective defense against potential threats and to maintain a strategic advantage in the region. Israel's military technology sector has grown significantly over the years, with the country taking a leading role in many areas. Notable weapons systems developed by Israel include the Iron Dome missile defense system, the Merkava tank, and the Jericho III intercontinental ballistic missile.

Israel’s Military Needs

The unique military needs of Israel are shaped by several factors, including its geographical location, political situation, and history, shaped by the location in a region that has been historically volatile and prone to conflict. Israel shares borders with several countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt, and it faces security threats from a variety of actors, including state-sponsored groups, non-state actors, and terrorist organizations. This makes maintaining a strong military presence and capabilities essential for Israel's survival especialy that “over the past decades, the relationship and the patterns of confrontation between Israel and Hizbollah have evolved considerably. The first phase of hostilities occurred between 1982, when the group was initially formed, and 1990, in the context of the Lebanese civil war and following Israel’s full scale military intervention in Lebanon.” Israel has a history of wars since its establishment in 1948, which has led to the development of advanced military technology and intelligence capabilities. In response to unconventional threats and asymmetric warfare, Israel has developed unique strategies for dealing with such situations. The IDF of the late 1980s and early 1990s was highly successful due to its technological superiority and proficiency in handling unconventional threats, such as the Palestinian Intifada. Israel's political situation and culture of service in the military have led to a greater emphasis on developing advanced military technology and intelligence capabilities as a deterrent and to defend itself against potential threats. Israel's focus on innovation and the close partnership between its military and civilian technology sectors, as well as its strategic relationships with other countries, particularly the United States, have contributed to the unique military needs of the country. As a result, Israel's military technology sector has become a leader in many areas, such as weapon systems, cybersecurity, and intelligence capabilities, enabling it to defend itself and maintain a strategic advantage in the region.

Weapon Systems

Israel has developed a range of advanced weapons systems that are used to protect the state from potential threats like small arms, missiles, tanks, and fighter jets, among others. By the Israel’s strategic location Israel, has led to a focus on military technology and innovation, both to provide effective defense against potential threats and to maintain a strategic advantage in the region. Israel's military technology sector has grown significantly over the years, with the country taking a leading role in many areas. Israel produces a wide range of small arms, including assault rifles, submachine guns, and pistols being “one of the most important producers of small arms being Israel Military Industries (IMI), a subsidiary of the Defence Ministry until 1991, when it became a state-owned company and it produces pistols, the Uzi family of sub-machine guns, the Galil, and Tavor families of assault rifles, light machine guns, anti-armour weapons, grenades, and ammunition.” One of the most famous Israeli-designed small arms is the Uzi submachine gun, which was developed in the 1950’s and has been used by many military and law enforcement units around the world. More recently, Israel has developed the Tavor assault rifle, the new assault rifle being lightweight, compact and ergonomically designed to become an “organic” part of the warfighter.” In the other hand, Israel has one of the most technologically advanced missile arsenals in the Middle East, developing a range of missile systems, including the Arrow 3, “an exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile defence system jointly developed and produced by Israel and the US for long-range threat engagement. The Arrow 3 interceptor was co-developed by Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) MLM Division.” Israel also produces the Iron Dome, “Israeli mobile missile defense system designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery that comprises the lowest tier of Israel’s missile defense architecture, intended to counter unguided rocket and drone attacks from the Palestinian Territories and Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon", as well as the David's Sling system, which can intercept medium-range missiles and aircraft and “forms a crucial element of Israel’s multi-tier layered missile defense architecture to provide mid-tier regional missile defense” that offers “terminalphase, hit-to-kill defense against tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, enemy planes, drones and cruise missiles, including Scud missiles.”

Israel has developed a number of advanced tanks, including the Merkava Main Battle Tank who was developed in response to the country's past experiences with armored warfare, and it has evolved over time to include advanced armor and weapon systems. The Merkava 4 main battle tank entered full production in 2001 and began operational training with the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in July 2003. The first battalion of Merkava Mk 4 tanks entered service with the Israel Defence Forces in 2004”, and has been used in a number of conflicts, including the 2006 Lebanon War.

Fighter Jets

Israel operates a number of advanced fighter jets, including the F-15I and F-16I. The F-15I is a modified version of the F-15E Strike Eagle designed specifically for Israel's needs, with additional avionics and weapons systems. The F-16I Soufa (Storm), on the other hand, “is a modified variant of the F-16D block 50 and 52 fighter and ground attack aircraft, with the avionics and weapons systems capability modified to meet the requirements of the Israeli Air Force.”

Cybersecurity

Israel is a recognized leader in cybersecurity technology and has been at the forefront of developing advanced cybersecurity capabilities for both defense and civilian use by “the Advanced Technologies Park in Israel’s city of Beer-Sheva is home to the nation’s cyber security philosophy that brings together a unique combination of theoretical and practical crosspollination of private and public interests”. There are a lot of coperations with the international environment in this field, mentioning “the UK and Israeli governments have signed a landmark agreement to define bilateral relations between the two countries and boost mutual cybersecurity advancement until 2030 with The 2030 Roadmap for Israel-UK Bilateral Relations representing the culmination of efforts that began with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2021 to work more closely over the next decade on security, technology, trade, and defense.” Here is an overview of how Israel has developed its cybersecurity capabilities and how it applies this technology to meet military needs.

Development of Cybersecurity Capabilities

Back to the 1990’s, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) recognized the potential threats posed by cyberspace to national security. Started like ““a national cyber defensive envelope”—a basis for multi-layered cyber defence strategy leveraging an innovative multi-stakeholder approach that combines intelligence, early warning, passive and active defence, and offensive capabilities across civil-military domains”, and the Israeli government has invested heavily in cybersecurity research and development, providing significant resources to universities and private companies and “Israel's national cyber defense concept is composed of three distinct layers, each executed by a different combination of authorized agencies. The different layers have a common goal: ensuring techno-operational advantage over adversaries in cyber. These three layers are supported by an additional national effort to shore up the national cyber scientific and industrial ecosystem.” The Israeli government has also established a National Cyber Directorate to oversee the country's cybersecurity strategy and coordinate with other government agencies and private sector organizations. The IDF uses cybersecurity to defend its networks and carry out offensive cyber operations and for achieving the results, government has established a National Cyber Directorate to coordinate the country's cybersecurity strategy at the national level. Israel has also applied its cybersecurity capabilities to protect civilian infrastructure, and is recognized for having a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem with close cooperation between government agencies, private companies, academic institutions, and international partners. Many startups and companies in Israel focus on developing new technologies and tools for cybersecurity.

Military Research and Development Industry

Israel has a highly developed military research and development (R&D) sector that emphasizes collaboration between the government, academia, and the private sector. The Israeli government provides significant funding and resources to its defense R&D sector with a focus on developing high-tech solutions for military and security challenges. The country consistently ranks among the top 10 global arms exporters and actively promotes its defense industry. The Israeli defense industry is home to a large number of companies that develop cutting-edge technologies for the military, often as a result of close collaboration with the Israeli government and military, “dominated by three companies: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems (both parastatals), publicly owned, and Elbit Systems. This approach has helped Israel become a key player in the global defense industry and maintain a qualitative military edge. In the other hand, Israel’s military research and development sector develops advanced technologies to address immediate security threats, and the Iron Dome missile defense system and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones, UAV) are two examples that showcase the country's capabilities. Iron Dome, developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in response to rocket attacks from Gaza, intercepts and destroys short-range rockets and artillery shells using advanced tracking and intercepting technologies. Israel's drones have been developed significantly over the years and are used extensively in military operations, including for intelligence gathering, surveillance and targeted strikes, giving the country a significant advantage in conflicts like the 2014 Gaza and Lebanon war.

Conclusion

Israel's military technology is crucial to the country's national security. The country has a leading military research and development sector that has produced advanced technologies such as the Iron Dome missile defense system and unmanned aerial vehicles who has helped the country maintaining its security in a challenging security environment, and it is a significant component of its deterrence posture. Israel's military technology is also a source of economic revenue and has made the country vulnerable to attacks. Nonetheless, the military R&D sector will continue to play a critical role in ensuring Israel's security and prosperity.