Israel has “evolved into a true ‘Defense-Tech Nation,’” with Tel Aviv now ranking as the world’s “third leading Defense-Tech hub,” Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram, director general of the Defense Ministry, said at the International DefenseTech Summit at Tel Aviv University on Monday.
Baram said that Israel’s transition from a so-called “Cyber Nation” to a Defense-Tech Nation has been recognized during its multi-front war over the past two years, according to an statement from the ministry.
“In 2024 alone, we signed 21 government-to-government agreements worth billions,” he stressed.
Israel’s major defense firms have secured “significant” international contracts across Europe, Asia and North America, as small and mid-sized companies have achieved “remarkable growth, with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars each,” Baram continued.
The director general noted that Israel’s “innovation portfolio now spans the full spectrum of advanced capabilities: aerial defense systems, unmanned vehicles, electronic warfare, quantum-resistant communications, intelligence and surveillance systems, cyber defense and space technologies.”
He added that 130 Israeli startups have joined the Defense Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) operations during the war, raising the number of startups working with the ministry to more than 300.
As for Israel’s geopolitical situation, he said that “All fronts are still open, and our enemies are learning and preparing. This transitional period brings uncertainty and risks, but also significant strategic opportunities for those who understand the moment.
“We are deeply engaged in developing next-generation breakthrough technologies for potential future confrontations with Iran, in both defensive and offensive capabilities,” he was cited as saying.
Baram highlighted the unique conditions of Israel’s defense industry. Israeli innovation emerges from “direct feedback loops [that] connect the frontline, engineers and industry partners—creating a robust chain from battlefield needs to deployed solutions. These are combat-proven systems. This is what Defense-Tech means in Israel.”
Also at the Dec. 1-2 summit, Brig. Gen. Benny Aminov, head of the Directorate of Defense Research and Development’s Military R&D Unit, said that the “drone challenge” at Israel’s borders was “moving toward a solution,” with a technological breakthrough in enemy drone detection achieved in recent weeks, the Defense Ministry’s statement read.
“We are now working on interception solutions using drone-based systems that enable response to swarm scenarios while accelerating the development of new directed-energy weapons,” Aminov said.
“The issue of low-altitude threats is an example of a challenge that requires our defense establishment to fundamentally change its operational approach—responding within compressed timeframes, spiral development, accelerating testing during the development process, and bridging small defense-tech companies with major defense contractors,” he added.
The International DefenseTech Summit showcases cutting-edge advances in emerging technologies that are shaping the future of global security, amid the lessons drawn from the Jewish state’s ongoing military operations and challenges in the region.
