Dusseldorf, Tel Aviv Terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip, attacks by the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and the acute threat from Iran: external threats are nothing new for Israel. But recently the regime in Tehran has become an even greater threat than before – and the Israeli government is governing with enormous armaments.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense speaks of a special multi-year plan that observers say is aimed at Iran. Director-General of the Israeli Defense Ministry, Eyal Zamir, in an unsubtle reference to the Islamic Republic, said the plan was designed to expand military capabilities for the “third circle.”
This third circle relates to the most distant direct threats Israel faces. The first circle is small terror groups inside and on Israel’s borders like Hamas, the second are bigger threats like the Syrian Army or Hezbollah, and the third refers to countries that don’t share a border with Israel like Iran.
Since the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, Israel has been considered the country’s archenemy – and vice versa. Again and again there are mutual military threats. The government in Israel suspects Iran of working on a nuclear bomb under the guise of a civilian nuclear program.
In May, the AP news agency reported that Iran was building an underground nuclear facility so deep that US weapons designed to destroy such facilities were unlikely to reach it. In February, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that the country had enriched uranium to a purity of almost 84 percent for the first time. For nuclear weapons, 90 percent would be necessary.
Israeli military wants to invest in AI
Iran is also arming itself: In June, the Iranian government presented the first hypersonic missile manufactured in its own country.
Not only Israel, but also Iran invests heavily in the military.
(Photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Wire)
The government in Jerusalem has announced a military budget of $23.6 billion for 2023. In the years 2024 to 2028, the budget is expected to grow by around two percent a year on average. Israel is preparing for a variety of threats. Military strategists expect increased investment in the air force and intelligence gathering. Zamir also stated that he wanted to spend more money on artificial intelligence (AI).
The mission is to make Israel a “powerhouse of artificial intelligence”. Recently, the Israeli military began using AI for military logistics and for selecting targets for airstrikes.
The fact that Israel’s military focus is on Iran is also shown by recent joint exercises by the Israeli and US Air Forces. These exercises are apparently aimed at preparing the Israeli Defense Forces for a possible attack on the Islamic Republic.
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According to the Israeli Defense Forces, the Israeli Air Force flies airstrikes against “strategic targets at depth” as part of the exercise called Juniper Oak – a reference to Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The Israeli military is strengthening its air force with stealth jets.
(Photo: AP)
During the exercise, the Israeli fighter jets are to be refueled by an American Boeing KC-46, four of which Israel has ordered. The first K-46 is expected to arrive in two years.
According to Israeli statements, the exercise will also simulate “gaining air superiority in the region and cyber defense against a variety of threats”.
Israel buys more F-35 jets
Israel also wants to buy more F-35 fighter jets. They should cost around three billion dollars. According to the Israeli Defense Ministry, they are funded by US military aid.
Israel was the first country outside the US to receive the plane and one of the few allowed to modify the state-of-the-art aircraft. The acquisition will add 25 to Israel’s stealth aircraft fleet to 75.
The fifth-generation F-35 has been heralded as a “game changer” by the military, not only for its offensive and stealth capabilities, but also for its ability to link its systems with other aircraft and form an information-sharing network.
Jerusalem and Washington are also continuing their arms cooperation despite political differences between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for example over the controversial judicial reform. Lockheed Martin and engine maker Pratt & Whitney have signed an agreement between Israel and the United States to involve the Israeli defense industry in the production of aircraft parts.
>> Read here: What does Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall’s F-35 fighter jet deal mean?
In addition to offensive weapons, Israel is also investing in defence. The Iron Dome air defense system is capable of destroying around 90 percent of incoming missiles in the air. However, the cost of each intercepted missile is extremely high. They amount to between 100,000 and 150,000 dollars, which is an almost unbearable financial burden in long-lasting wars.
New defense system for Israel should be significantly cheaper
Engineers have therefore developed a new system in which laser beams are used against missiles. This “Iron Beam” laser system has proven itself in initial tests. It’s significantly cheaper than the Iron Dome: intercepting a missile or drone will cost around two dollars.
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The manufacturer Rafael promises that the system can render missiles and drones “harmless from a distance of a few hundred meters to several kilometers”. Using a laser, the Iron Beam has an unlimited magazine with a low cost per shot. It also causes minimal collateral damage, according to Rafael.
According to military experts, the Iron Beam system could also be used for deterrence, especially when combined with other weapons. Rafael Vice President Ran Gozali said on the sidelines of the International Defense Exhibition in Abu Dhabi: “We can focus the beam to the diameter of a coin in a range of ten kilometers.”
Israel has a powerful ally in the United States in its fight against Iran. The United States supports Israel with around 3.8 billion US dollars every year, a considerable part of which goes to defense against missiles and military technology.
In addition, although Israel is not a member of NATO, it has been an active NATO partner for more than twenty years. Israel has had a permanent and official mission at NATO headquarters for the past five years.
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