IDF will begin mass arming with FPV drones of own Israeli production, to be manufactured at new factory already under construction.
First batch timelines already in two months, and at initial stages it will ensure manufacturing 1,000 units monthly. Subsequently this will involve production volumes of tens of thousands monthly.
Read more: Why Losing to Ukrainian Forces in Exercises Is a Learning Opportunity for NATO Drone Warfare
Factory itself will be under country's defense ministry jurisdiction, with entire component base to be Israeli production. This decision was made after using drones purchased from private Israeli company using Chinese components.
Galei Tzahal correspondent, IDF's official radio, reported this. At the same time, post photo shows fiber-optic drones manufactured in Ukraine and Czechia (supplied as assistance to Armed Forces), although Ukraine's experience is not mentioned at all.
Post specifies approximately 200 ultra-orthodox community conscripts will also work at FPV drone production factory, whose recruitment starts in June. Evidently this is certain compromise solution for them passing military service.
Which specific drones will be assembled at this enterprise, whether they will be radio-controlled or fiber-optic, currently unknown. As is which drone concept was chosen: maximally cheap or with broad autonomization, which will inevitably increase their cost.
At the same time, decision to create new enterprise rather than contract drones from one of numerous own weapons manufacturers is also quite telling. Ultimately own production will enable Israel's Defense Ministry not only to purchase products at cost but also produce what it considers necessary, not what private arms makers are ready to supply.
This decision is another confirmation that FPV drones made tectonic shift on modern battlefield and can no longer be ignored or considered situational solution. Ultimately IDF first encountered FPV drones through own experience with Hezbollah, which uses them to strike Merkava 4 tanks with Trophy APS, and also already began installing anti-drone nets.
Moreover, FPV drone armament decision for Israel is quite telling also because IDF actively uses loitering munitions and generally became pioneer of active UAV use. However, specifically total battlefield dronization was noticed in Israel with several-year delay and now will catch up.
Read more: German-Made Quantum Systems Drones Will Hunt russian Air Defense and EW Systems With SIGINT Payloads
