5 Technologies that Keep the IDF on the Cutting Edge

IDF Blog

Groundbreaking technologies are advancing the IDF’s capabilities and eliminating threats. With these advanced tools in the hands of its soldiers, the IDF protects the people of Israel.
In a major speech last October, IDF Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Benny Gantz described the wide-ranging threats facing Israel in the near future. According to the Chief of Staff, the IDF could be forced to contend with anything from missile strikes on military sites to large-scale battles and cyber attacks that would paralyze Israel’s infrastructure.

But after reviewing a range of doomsday scenarios, Lt. Gen. Gantz concluded his address with a message of hope and optimism. “We are strong enough to face every challenge, the expected and the unexpected,” he said. “It is our duty to invest in whatever is necessary to provide the response, even by looking years into the future.”

Innovators throughout the IDF have heeded the Chief of Staff’s message, developing technologies that keep civilians safe and allow Israel to strike accurately far from its borders. In every sector, cutting-edge technologies are advancing Israel’s capabilities and eliminating threats, keeping the IDF steps ahead of its enemies.

1. The Super Simulator

The Israel Air Force’s new super simulator models flight missions with unprecedented accuracy. “This is the most magnificent technology in the Air Force,” a senior Air Force officer says of the technology. The simulator demonstrates flights more realistically than any technology to date, generating lifelike images of enemies’ capabilities. “If for example, the mission is carried out behind enemy lines, this is the view that the pilots will see,” the senior official says.

In addition, the simulator can hold up to eight fighter pilots, allowing several fighters to train together to battle enemy forces. While it illustrates the reality of war, the simulator seamlessly shifts from one threat to another, alerting pilots to life-threatening failures. If a missile hits the plane’s tail, a pilot is forced to react to the attack, determining how it affects the aircraft and the overall mission. The technology enables pilots and navigators to carry out more missions and increase their operational strength.

2. Mid-Flight Refueling Technology

In October, fighter squadrons from the Israel Air Force refueled planes in midair. The complex technological maneuver, which Israel’s aircraft executed with ease, enables Israeli planes to fly for hours and confront threats far away from home. At any time, the IDF has the endurance to carry out any operation necessary.

3. The Trophy System

Despite their strength, traditional tanks are vulnerable to anti-tank guided missiles, such as rocket-propelled grenades. These guided missiles can penetrate thick armor, endangering crew members. To defend armored vehicles from anti-tank threats, the Israeli Defense Ministry and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems developed the Trophy System.

The Trophy system creates a protective dome which shields the tank from multiple attacks. If a missile detonates while being intercepted by the Trophy System, collateral damage for friendly forces is far less than had the missile hit the tank.

The “Trophy” system effect

4. Cyber Warfare and Virtual Reality

Visions for the future are endless and arriving much faster than ever before. By using innovations like augmented reality devices – technology that provides information on the physical features of objects in the field  – the IDF’s Lotem-C4i Technological Division ensures Israel maintains a technological edge over its enemies.

The same unit is expanding Israel’s cyber defense capabilities, fortifying the military against the threat of enemy hackers while developing technologies to defend the country on the ground. The IDF has taken broad measures to protect itself, creating an official Cyber Defense Division. The division runs a war room that runs around the clock to eliminate threats.

5. The Skylark Drone

This is the Skylark I-LE  drone – a small, lightweight, and practically unnoticeable device. It’s light enough to be carried by one person and can be set up to fly in less than eight minutes. Equipped with a live video feed, it can fly for up to three hours, at night and in all weather conditions. The drone can be quickly deployed and recovered, preventing the enemy from knowing that we’re watching.