Israel’s defense establishment has initiated emergency procurement of defense systems to counter the potential threat of an all-out war in the northern region of the country. The focus is on tackling the risk posed by large swarms of suicide drones targeting critical infrastructure such as power plants, air force bases, and groups of IAF forces in the event of an emergency.

Despite possessing one of the most advanced air defense systems globally, Israel is facing a tangible threat from suicide drones. The existing defense missiles are not equipped to handle numerous slow-flying, low-altitude drones targeting specific locations.

This concern was underscored by a recent drone attack on a Tower 22 outpost in Jordan, which resulted in the deaths of three American soldiers and injuries to 40 others. The attack is believed to have been carried out by a pro-Iranian militia. Similarly, a few weeks prior, a drone targeted a command base near Safed in northern Israel, in a retaliatory move by Hezbollah for the assassination of a high-ranking Hamas official in Beirut.

Amid the ongoing war in Gaza and the looming threat of conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel’s defense establishment has been rapidly equipping itself with electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. The objective is to enhance the country’s defenses against explosive suicide drones deployed in large numbers to target sensitive locations in Israel.

The procurement efforts have a significant financial scope, amounting to hundreds of millions of shekels, with a focus on acquiring systems designed to disrupt the radars used by the drones and enhance interception capabilities over substantial distances.

These developments come in response to observations of Iranian-made weapons operating in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine, raising concerns about potential drone attacks from Hezbollah. The urgency of these defense measures reflects the evolving nature of modern warfare and the need for proactive defense strategies against unconventional threats.