by Yonah Jeremy Bob
Defense Ministry's Amir Baram warned that "Iran's rapid force buildup in air defense and ballistic missile capabilities" driven by "its extremist ideology" means that "all fronts are still open."
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Israel is working on new technologies for the next potential war with Iran, Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram said on Monday.
Speaking from the Defense Tech conference jointly sponsored by the ministry and Tel Aviv University, Baram warned that "Iran's rapid force buildup in air defense and ballistic missile capabilities" driven by "its extremist ideology" means that "all fronts are still open" and the IDF must be ready for additional rounds of fighting.
"Enemies are learning and adapting. We are at a pivotal point before a new paradigm takes place," said Baram.
Separately, Baram revealed for the first time what led the ministry and the IDF to finally deploy the Iron Beam laser defense system in the field in October 2024.
On October 13, Hezbollah succeeded in killing a large number of soldiers from the Golani Brigade, when a drone it launched struck them in their mess hall in their base in the North.
Israel deploys Iron Beam, turns into 'defense-tech nation'
Within days, Baram said the decision came down to taking the risk to deploy the Iron Beam.The rationale was that the risk of deployment was not lower than the risk of non-deployment, in which Hezbollah was succeeding in striking Israel with many drones.
Iron Beam shot down nearly 40 drones over the coming two weeks, and the IDF recently announced the full-scale deployment of the tool.
Next, Baram addressed Israel's uniqueness in advanced defense technologies and noted, “For years, Israel was known worldwide as a 'Cyber Nation.' Today, we have evolved into a true 'Defense-Tech Nation.'
Our innovation portfolio now spans the full spectrum of advanced capabilities: Aerial Defense Systems, Unmanned Vehicles, Electronic Warfare, Quantum-Resistant Communications, Intelligence and Surveillance Systems, Cyber Defense, and Space Technologies."
He added, "In 2024 alone, we signed 21 Government-to-Government agreements worth billions, and the Ministry invested 1.2 billion shekels in startups alone. Of the 300+ startups working with the DDR&D, remarkably, over 130 joined operations during this war."
Moreover, Baram stated, "Tel Aviv now ranks as the world's third leading Defense-Tech hub. Israel's major defense companies have secured significant international contracts across Europe, Asia, and North America. Small and mid-sized companies have achieved remarkable growth, with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars each."
Further, he said Israel promotes a unique ecosystem that only a few can replicate, born of existential security challenges and shaped over decades of operational experience.
Direct feedback loops connect the frontline, engineers, and industry partners, creating a robust chain from battlefield needs to deployed solutions. These are combat-proven systems. This is what Defense-Tech means in Israel."
Yonah Jeremy Bob
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-876796
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