Unmanned tanks and mini-submarines among Israel’s weapons of the future

DEBKAfile was founded by a team of journalists in June 2000 as an independent Internet Web site, providing an intelligence and security news service. September 5, 2017, 9:31 PM (IDT)

“The tank will no longer be the tank we once knew,” said Brig. Gen. (res.) Dr. Danny Gold, head of the Administration for the Development of Weapons and Technological Infrastructure (MAFAT) at the Defense Ministry Tuesday, when he presented a dizzying array of work in progress, altogether 1,500 projects, many in partnership with other friendly countries.
Some examples: Facial recognition technology on video, various types of drones, and Israeli satellites. Then there is the APC of the future, which willl be light, small, agile and lethal. An electro-optical gadget for an assault rifle dramatically improves accurate fire. A miniature unmanned submarine for reconnaissance and mapping dives and moves rapidly in any direction. An unmanned submarine conducts secret missions autonomously.

Dr. Gold, who is known as the “father of the Iron Dome” missile defense system, described MAFAT has having 25 departments and employing about 500 IDF officers and civilians. It works with 41 national security centers in the defense industries.

Our unique angle on these subjects – and strong intelligence dimension – has earned DEBKAfile a global reputation and a steady readership – which skyrockets in times of crisis.