Operation Israel announced the Centipede Initiative, a groundbreaking program that funds the development and deployment of remote-operated robotic platforms that are already changing the way elite Israel Defense Forces units operate and survive in today’s war zones.
Modern urban combat—especially in Gaza, on Israel’s northern border and in underground tunnel networks—presents extreme risks to soldiers. IDF troops are often forced to enter buildings, bunkers and tunnels without knowing what lies inside, exposing them to hidden explosives, ambushes or structural collapse.
The Centipede is a compact, tank-like robot that can scout buildings, tunnels and collapsed structures remotely. It is equipped with advanced video and thermal imaging capabilities, tactical lighting and rugged mobility to traverse stairs, rubble and tight spaces. Operated from a safe distance, the robot provides commanders with real-time situational awareness, helping units detect hidden threats, avoid ambushes, and make split-second decisions that save lives.
The Centipede is a low-cost, high-functionality robot designed for broad use across the IDF. Its adaptable base platform supports different payloads and is continuously improved based on real-time feedback from the field. Unlike other systems currently in deployment, mainly by elite units in the IDF, the Centipede offers critical mobility, durability and situational awareness at a fraction of the cost. Operation Israel’s goal is to donate this low-cost, life-saving technology to as many units as possible.
The robots are already being used by both special forces and frontline IDF units in active combat zones, where they have successfully identified heat signatures, located improvised explosive devices and cleared high-risk entry points ahead of human teams. Each Centipede costs approximately $10,000 to build and deploy. Operation Israel, an organization founded in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, is the exclusive funder of the Centipede Initiative.
“These robots are already proving to be a game-changer in the field,” said Adi Vaxman, founder and president of Operation Israel. “Every Centipede we deploy is a group of soldiers who don’t have to enter a tunnel or building blind. That’s the kind of impact our donors are making, saving lives in real time.”
Since its founding, Operation Israel, a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) non-profit, has raised nearly $10 million and delivered more than 65,000 life-saving items directly to over 40,000 Israeli soldiers. The Centipede Initiative is the latest in a series of high-impact programs aimed at protecting those on the front lines through speed, precision, and grassroots generosity.
“Every Centipede deployed represents more than just advanced tech, it’s the result of lessons from real combat, rapid deployment through our partnership with Operation Israel, and a commitment to one core idea: technology should take the risk so our people don’t have to,” said A.N., a member of the engineering team behind the Centipede. “When a unit spots an IED before entering a building, that principle becomes a life-saving reality.”