IDF increasingly deploys battlefield robots as military technology evolves

Source Domain: allisraelnews.com

Over the past three years of conflict, the IDF has reported 962 soldiers killed in action and thousands more wounded. Much of the fighting has taken place in dense urban terrain, including underground tunnel networks, bunkers, and caves. In these environments, Israeli soldiers have often operated in conditions that limit conventional advantages and increase exposure to ambushes, improvised explosive devices, and other battlefield hazards.

Alongside battlefield challenges, the IDF has also expanded its technological capabilities, including the growing use of ground robots guided by digital networks and increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. This shift has been driven in part by the use of unmanned systems, particularly UAVs, by militant groups against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.

The Jerusalem Post recently highlighted these developments in the IDF’s order of battle, including a visit to a central Israel base where new robotic systems are being developed. A Defense Ministry officer with the Directorate of Defense Research and Development outlined the operational pressures that accelerated investment in these technologies during recent fighting in Gaza and southern Lebanon.

“Troops were out in the open,” the officer said. “They needed protection. Instead of sending soldiers, they are sending robotic platforms. They don’t have mothers opening doors to hear that their son was killed.”

He continued, “Days are intense, but we need to deploy as fast as we can,” adding, “We need to save lives. Time to market is important, so we are constantly thinking, developing, testing and deploying for the troops.”

The DDR&D officer added that robotics research is advancing rapidly worldwide, much of it focused on civilian applications such as cleaning, maintenance, construction, and manufacturing. While some of these systems can be adapted for military use, others are not suitable for such…

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