One of the many recent fields that have seen the widespread incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the military. Militaries around the world are using these revolutionary AI-based technologies to secure a strategic edge in the ongoing military dominance wars of the future but, no other country has adopted these possibilities as effectively as Israel. A global leader in the realm of artificial intelligence or AI-driven innovation, Israel has strategically infused the utilization of AI in most of its defense and military facilities to establish a technological formidability over its adversaries.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) extensively organize artificial intelligence for offense, defense, command, and control functions, as well as intelligence processing that improves military organizational responses to today’s complex battlefield effectively, accurately, and proactively. The computing field known as artificial intelligence has elicited substantial interest among various nation-states, including Israel, which has incorporated information technology military approaches to design efficient systems that provide better situational awareness and operation effectiveness. This experiment of integration of AI and defense has built an advanced and effective defense infrastructure. It enables IDF to be more efficient, faster, and effective in a world where wars are waged across multiple arenas with various challenges and threats. An example of such is Iron Dome a missile defense system that operates through AI to launch, identify, track, and intercept short-range rockets and artillery.
During the ongoing Israel-Hamas war since October 2024, this system has shot down thousands of projectiles launched from Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen resulting in a low number of casualties and damage to infrastructure. Another innovative system – from the fusion of AI with cybersecurity and automatic systems that give Israel a strategic advantage — is the Lavender system. Lavender is another AI tool, created by unit 8200, which combines signals, intelligence, imagery, human intelligence, and spatial intelligence to create an AI database that gives real-time actionable insights, greatly improving the IDF response time. Reportedly, it was used during the early stages of the Israel-Hamas 2024 war making it easier for the Israeli forces to counter threats this system helped to neutralize. Another such system called GOSPEL has been employed to analyze large streams of surveillance to select targets for airstrikes; the censorship of this system has been seen in the Operation Guardians of Wall in the conflict with Hamas in the year 2021. Furthermore, Israel has developed AI-enhanced weaponry, such as Golden Eagle UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) of Israel’s own AI technology to mark the static and moving objectives and be able to follow the target line by line in real time ensuring the target is hit both on the ground and in the air.
Constructions such as the SMASH fire control system an AI-based control system that increases accuracy for soldiers in live combat by using machine vision to enhance shooting accuracy. Fire weaver system helps enhance control in the battlefield by recommending optimal weapons and shooters in the real battlefield. While platforms such as Fire Factory rely on historical data gathered over previous operations to improve value delivery and effectiveness. Technology in the military in general and AI, in particular, has become a key strategic component of change and progress in the warfare situation in Israel through changes in the procedures of defensive weapon systems and methods, cyber capability, and unmanned vehicle systems. The defense industry is one of the most innovative in Israel and using its technologies the country supplies the highest demanded products for the international market from UAVS to cyber security solutions. This technological advantage not only protects the borders of Israel but also boosts its strategic alliances as many countries look for Israeli defense technologies for their protection. This commitment of Israel to innovate in this particular field proves the firm determination to sustain strategic advantage.
Starting from the Iron Dome system to AI intelligence platforms such as Lavender these technologies strengthen Israel’s defense and shape the future of warfare. The operational capabilities of the IDF are optimized by the adoption of drones, unmanned systems, and precision-guided munitions assisted with AI, making appropriate responses to new threats that appear in the changing battlefields. As we know in the 21st century to be ahead in technologies is not only a plus but a must but as Israel and other nations seek to define and develop AI in warfare, they should also consider the ethical and legal questions that come with these creations. Technological innovations in weapon systems and other related affairs that are not restricted by laws governing the conduct at the international level pose vast legal and moral issues aggravating the multifaceted character of modern warfare. War is not a simple matter of arms and armies anymore; it’s more about information, algorithms, and machines. For IDF, the strategy will lie principally in leveraging AI to extract big data quickly and generate accurate, timely intelligence. Here, AI is presented as a capacity builder, force amplifier, and decision aid to the commanders and operators. When the face of defense strategies is altered by AI, the International community needs to collectively address the challenges it presents.
