Preparing for future wars: Israel launches a new armaments strategy

A report in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that the Israeli army has adopted a new armaments strategy based on domestic production rather than relying on external sources.

The report added that the new strategy is part of an expanded plan that affirms the readiness of the defense establishment in Tel Aviv for what it called "future military conflicts."

Major deals
The report confirmed that the Israeli army is working on "restocking its warehouses with advanced weapons and ammunition, after a large portion of them was depleted in the wars it fought over the past two and a half years."

The Defense Procurement Authority at Israel's Ministry of Defense issued multi-year purchase orders for airborne weapons and ammunition produced by the Israeli company Elbit Systems, with a total value exceeding 600 million shekels, approximately 201 million dollars.

The report explained that the deal includes "Rampage" missiles — heavy, guided ballistic missiles designed for fighter aircraft, developed by Elbit, traveling at a speed of "Mach 5."

The report quoted Israeli military sources saying that "these types of missiles are designed to target enemy air defense systems, even those buried at great depths," and the aerial munitions are planned to be manufactured in Elbit factories across Israel.

Enhancing readiness
The defense establishment in Tel Aviv announced that "this deal is part of enhancing readiness to face immediate combat scenarios and preparing for a decade of security challenges."

Defense Minister Israel Katz said: "We continue to strengthen Israel's independence in the field of armament. The Israeli army must at all times have the means to act with force, speed and independently of external factors."

According to the Director-General of the Ministry of Defense, Brigadier General Amir Baram, "this deal is another practical step towards implementing the Defense Ministry's strategy aimed at expanding the base of Israeli domestic defense production."

Baram added: "In facing complex challenges and lessons from the war, we have a duty to ensure Israel's independence in the field of weapons and strengthen its production capabilities."

For his part, Elbit Systems President and CEO Bezhalel Machlis said: "This series of contracts embodies Elbit Systems' position as a leading technology company in the field of aerial weapons."