"A country that does not invest in AI today will be left far behind on the battlefield of tomorrow"

The rise of Israel's defense tech sector continues to garner attention, particularly following the announcement of the new venture capital fund Protego, which focuses exclusively on military technologies. Against this backdrop, Defense Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir addressed attendees at the inaugural Defense Tech Conference, organized by the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) and Tel Aviv University.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer just a technological revolution,” Zamir declared. “It will completely change what we know as warfare. A country that does not invest in AI today will be left far behind on the battlefield of tomorrow.” He envisioned a transformative shift in combat operations, saying, “On the battlefield of the future, soldiers and AI systems will work together in a new combat service. Autonomous tools based on artificial intelligence will be an integral part of this landscape.”

Zamir further explained the potential of AI-enabled warfare: “AI will enable the operation of mixed combat units—soldiers and unmanned systems, or even fully autonomous units capable of making independent decisions. In a decade and a half, or perhaps sooner, robots based on artificial intelligence will lead the fight on land, in the air, and at sea.” He added, “While we will continue to strengthen ground forces and special units, we must integrate these new capabilities to be more effective and save lives.”

Zamir also highlighted the importance of self-reliance amid global embargo threats and the ongoing war: “Relying on independent production has made us stronger. We have improved our defense and attack systems, increased production capacity, and ensured that the IDF has all the weapons and means necessary for its missions.” He revealed that the Defense Ministry is establishing a dedicated administration focused on artificial intelligence and autonomy, which will operate under the Ministry’s framework.

According to DDR&D data, since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Defense Ministry has contracted with 86 Israeli startups specializing in innovative technologies and combat capabilities—five times more than the prior year.

“During the war, we worked with dozens of startups and created a methodology for taking a startup and integrating it into active operations—something the world is still grappling with,” said DDR&D chief Danny Gold.

Gold also touched on Israel’s evolving air defense capabilities: “We are constantly improving our systems. During the war, we made dozens of enhancements. For example, we are examining ways to intercept drones with other drones and disable enemy UAVs using advanced networks.”

Defense Tech Conference Chairman Prof. Isaac Ben-Israel praised the adaptability of Israel’s defense tech during challenging times. “The war into which we were dragged has shone a positive light on the defense technology developed in Israel,” he said. “Iran is launching hundreds of ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles at us, and the bottom line is that there is no real damage.”