Israel Defense Forces: Weapons of the Future

Friday, 6. October 2017 - 16:23

The Israeli Defense Ministry’s Administration for the Development of Weapons (ADW) unveiled on Tuesday nine new cutting-edge pieces of military technology that will be added to the IDF’s arsenal in the coming years. The revolutionary defense technologies were co-developed with local and international defense contractors, and are expected to be game-changers in future wars with Hamas and Hezbollah.

One of the most significant pieces revealed on Tuesday was the lightweight and cost-effective Carmel armored vehicle, slated to replace Israel’s current Merkava tank. The Merkava has been in service for more than four decades. The Carmel requires two crew members as opposed to four in the Merkava, and utilizes a battery-powered hybrid gas-electric engine.

Other notable technologies unveiled by ADW include three new unmanned aerial vehicles — one equipped with a “smart rifle” — and two unmanned undersea vehicles. The unmanned submarines will be available in large and small models, with the smaller version developed with assistance from Bar-Ilan University. The ministry also debuted its SMASH electro-optical aiming system, which enables soldiers to lock on to targets with their firearms, avoiding unnecessary civilian casualties.