Despite hostility toward Israel, NATO armies examine Israeli defense tech upgrade

Despite a peak in European hostility toward Israel, representatives from NATO militaries and European defense companies recently attended field demonstrations of a critical Israeli defense system. Elbit Systems Ltd.'s Swedish subsidiary showcased its Digital Ground Army system, a technology that has been used by the Israel Defense Forces for two decades.

The system connects command and control centers with soldiers in the field, as well as air and ground forces. Many NATO militaries lack this basic capability for a modern army due to years of neglect in defense spending since the end of the Cold War. This gap has become more evident as several European nations fear a potential conflict with Russia.

Elbit has already sold the system to the Australian and Dutch militaries, along with the IDF and one other European country, for a combined total exceeding $1 billion. The two-week event in Sweden featured a digital network enabling continuous connectivity between soldiers, vehicles, and command posts, facilitating real-time data sharing across all command levels. The solution is based on an architecture adapted for NATO, utilizing Elbit's proven technologies for reliable communications in complex environments.

During live scenarios, all elements, from reconnaissance drones and command posts to armored vehicles and infantry soldiers, operated while connected through real-time voice, video, and data. Commanders tracked the battlefield and issued digital orders, while soldiers shared intelligence and location data. "These demonstrations are a significant milestone for Elbit Systems Sweden and for the ongoing digitization process of Europe's ground forces," said Elbit Systems Sweden's CEO Tobias Wennberg. "The ability to connect a wide range of platforms, from sensors and soldiers, to vehicles and command posts, into one fast, flexible, and secure network was demonstrated here successfully."

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These demonstrations are a significant milestone for Elbit Systems Sweden and for the ongoing digitization process of Europe's ground forces. The ability to connect a wide range of platforms, from sensors and soldiers, to vehicles and command posts, into one fast, flexible, and secure network was demonstrated here successfully.