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🇮🇱 Israel /Conflict & Security

IDF to issue tender for 12,000 Israeli-made assault drones

From Jerusalem Post · (2h ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The IDF is preparing a tender for 12,000 Israeli-made assault drones, including FPV models with night vision capabilities.
  • This move aims to counter Hamas and Hezbollah's increasing use of drones, particularly in southern Lebanon.
  • The new tender emphasizes Western supply chains and higher-cost, advanced drones, contrasting with Hezbollah's cheaply produced, domestically assembled FPV drones.

Israel is significantly escalating its drone warfare capabilities with a new tender for 12,000 domestically produced assault drones. This initiative by the IDF and the Ministry of Defense Procurement Directorate is a direct response to the evolving battlefield, particularly the growing threat posed by Hamas and Hezbollah's increasing reliance on drones. The recent use of drones by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, including an incident where an IDF unit neutralized a terrorist with an assault drone, underscores the urgency of this development.

The new tender includes a requirement to purchase 12,000 first-person-view (FPV) assault drones that can be manually piloted by wearing virtual reality goggles and a joystick and are equipped with special features such as night vision cameras.

— Assaf Gilead/Globes/TNSDescribing the specifications of the drones included in the new IDF tender.

The new tender focuses on advanced First-Person View (FPV) assault drones, capable of manual piloting via virtual reality goggles and equipped with features like night vision cameras. The cost per unit is substantially higher than previous orders, reflecting a focus on quality and advanced technology. Notably, the tender aims to ensure a more Western supply chain, moving away from reliance on Chinese components due to data security concerns, a point of criticism leveled against the army in the past.

The cost of each such drone could range from NIS 20,000 to 25,000, a significant increase in price compared with the drones ordered by the army in the previous tender, which was estimated at NIS 3,500 per unit.

— Assaf Gilead/Globes/TNSHighlighting the increased cost of the drones in the new tender compared to previous ones.

This strategic shift contrasts sharply with Hezbollah's drone production methods. According to US research institute FDD, Hezbollah cheaply produces its FPV drones through domestic assembly using plans from the Russian army. These units, costing only hundreds of dollars, are often assembled from 3D-printed parts or components readily available online. The Jerusalem Post's reporting highlights this disparity, emphasizing Israel's investment in high-tech, secure drone technology versus the low-cost, accessible nature of enemy drones. This arms race in the skies is a critical aspect of modern conflict, and Israel's proactive procurement signals its determination to maintain a technological edge.

Even today, a significant portion of the army's surveillance and intelligence drones come from Chinese models, including from DJI and Autel.

— Assaf Gilead/Globes/TNSAddressing concerns about the use of Chinese-made drones in the Israeli army.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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