Israel is working on new technologies for the next potential war with Iran, Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram said on Monday
Speaking from the Defense Tech conference jointly sponsored by the ministry and Tel Aviv University, Baram warned that “Iran’s rapid force buildup in air defense and ballistic missile capabilities” driven by “its extremist ideology” means that “all fronts are still open” and the IDF must be ready for additional rounds of fighting.
“Enemies are learning and adapting. We are at a pivotal point before a new paradigm takes place,” said Baram.
Separately, Baram revealed for the first time what had led the ministry and the IDF to finally deploy the Iron Beam laser defense system in the field in October 2024.
On October 13, Hezbollah succeeded in killing a large number of Golani Brigade soldiers when the terror group launched a drone that struck the mess hall in their base in the North.
Israel deploys Iron Beam, turns into 'defense-tech nation'
Within days, Baram said the decision came down to risk deploying the Iron Beam.
The rationale was that the risk of deployment was not higher than the risk of non-deployment, since Hezbollah was succeeding at striking Israel with many drones.
Iron Beam shot down nearly 40 drones over the following two weeks.
Recently, the IDF announced the full and larger-scale deployment of the Iron Beam.
In addition to the Iron Beam, Baram said that the ministry had invested in 19 other potential technologies for shooting down aerial threats.
He also flagged that Israel is making progress on both the Arrow 4 and 5 air defense systems, which will improve on Arrow 2 and 3, though those advancements are still expected to take time.
Next, Baram addressed Israel’s uniqueness in advanced defense technologies, noting, “For years, Israel was known worldwide as a cyber nation. Today, we have evolved into a true defense-tech nation. Our 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 “in 2024 alone, we signed 21 government-to-government agreements worth billions, and the ministry invested NIS 1.2 billion in start-ups alone. Of the 300-plus start-ups working with the DDR&D, remarkably, over 130 joined operations during this war.”
Moreover, Baram stated, “Tel Aviv now ranks as the world’s third leading defense-tech hub. Israel’s major defense companies have secured significant international contracts across Europe, Asia, and North America. Small and mid-sized companies have achieved remarkable growth, with contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars each.”
Further, he said, Israel promotes a unique “ecosystem that only a few are able to replicate, born from existential security challenges and shaped over decades of operational experience. Direct feedback loops 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.”