Abdelmageed Abu Alela‏‏

Over the past several years, the Israeli military has repeatedly announced the introduction of new systems into its military structure and their first operational use during the wars in Gaza and Lebanon. This reflects an Israeli approach to warfare that goes beyond officially declared political and security objectives to include additional military and economic goals related to testing, developing, and marketing new weapons under real battlefield conditions.Following the field testing and operational development of new weapons during combat, Israel then seeks to market its military systems internationally as "battle-tested" — a term that appeals to foreign buyers seeking weapons systems and technologies that have been deployed and proven effective in actual combat situations.A Recurrent PatternIsrael’s April 2026 announcement about the use of a new automated artillery system in southern Lebanon was neither unprecedented nor surprising. Rather, it represented another example of a well-established and recurring Israeli pattern. In recent years, the Israeli military has repeatedly announced the operational debut of various weapons systems and advanced technologies during regional conflicts, including the following:1. Deployment of the New "Ro’em" Automated Artillery System in Southern Lebanon: On April 16, 2026, the Israeli military <a href="https://breakingdefense.com/2026/04/israels-new-automatic-roem-howitzer-used-for-first-time-in-combat/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">announced</a> that the 282nd Brigade of the Artillery Corps had used the new "Ro’em" automated self-propelled howitzer for the first time during military operations inside Lebanon. Elbit Systems had begun developing the system in 2019, and its deployment marked Israel’s first major shift toward reliance on fully automated artillery systems.The Israeli military promoted the new system by emphasizing its advantages over the M109 howitzers currently used by Israeli forces, including enhanced mobility, full automation, and greater maneuverability in difficult terrain and deep inside enemy territory, as well as its longer range and more accurate firepower.The new artillery system is capable of firing between six and eight shells per minute at ranges of up to 40 kilometers using 155mm shells. It also employs Multiple Rounds Simultaneous Impact (MRSI) technology, allowing several shells fired along different trajectories to strike the target simultaneously.2. Conducting the First Drone Interceptions Using Laser Weapons: On May 28, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Defense <a href="https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/defence/israel-announces-first-operational-laser-intercepts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">revealed</a> that the Israeli Air Force had carried out its first successful interceptions using high-energy laser weapons developed through an accelerated program led jointly by the Ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development, the Israeli Air Force, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.The effort resulted in the operational deployment of prototype high-energy laser systems. According to the ministry, Israeli air defense forces successfully conducted more than 40 laser-based interceptions against drones launched by Hamas and Hezbollah.3. Use of the "Bar" Artillery Rocket Against Hamas and Hezbollah: In January 2025, the Israeli military <a href="https://www.eremnews.com/news/arab-world/gyhnr2b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">unveiled</a> its domestically developed "Bar" artillery rocket, confirming that the 334th "Ra’am" Battalion of the 282nd "Northern Fire" Brigade had already used the rocket during operations against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.The medium-range rocket has a range of up to 30 kilometers and reportedly delivers greater destructive power than the Lance rockets previously used by Israeli artillery forces. Israeli officials claimed that the domestically developed system offers superior effective range and accuracy compared to the U.S.-made MLRS rocket launchers long used by Israel, particularly due to the "Bar" rocket’s autonomous navigation capabilities and laser-guidance system.4. Extensive Reliance on AI-Supported Military Technologies: In recent years, Israel has increasingly sought to integrate artificial intelligence into the military sphere. Recent wars have provided Tel Aviv with opportunities to deploy advanced AI-supported technologies in combat and intelligence operations under real battlefield conditions.According to three Israeli and American officials cited by <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/25/technology/israel-gaza-ai.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>, the Israeli military used a new AI-supported military system to locate senior Hamas leaders in northern Gaza. The newspaper also reported, based on interviews with nine American and Israeli defense officials, that Israel used the Gaza war to rapidly test and deploy AI-supported military technologies on an unprecedented scale.During AI Week at Tel Aviv University in February 2023, Colonel Yoav, head of the Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Center within Unit 8200 of Israeli military intelligence, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/11/idf-colonel-discusses-data-science-magic-powder-for-locating-terrorists" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">revealed</a> that during the May 2021 Gaza war, the Israeli military had used a sophisticated AI-powered targeting system to identify "dangerous individuals" based on similarities with pre-existing databases of known militants on which the system had been trained. The use of smart systems subsequently expanded during the 2023 war.Multiple DriversSeveral factors help explain Israel’s growing interest in introducing and testing new weapons under combat conditions over recent years. Some of these drivers stem from the strategic thinking and doctrine of the Israeli military leadership, while others are tied to broader military, economic, and industrial interests, including those of Israel’s defense industry. These drivers can be outlined as follows:1. The Role of Asymmetrical Warfare in Israeli Military Doctrine: Israeli military leaders view asymmetrical wars — conflicts against smaller armed groups rather than fully capable conventional armies — as training environments. This perspective has long been embedded in Israeli military doctrine and was explicitly articulated by former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a lecture <a href="https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/11384/World/Region/Israeli-Army-We-use-Gaza-military-operation-to-tes.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">delivered</a> at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University in 2011, while serving as the incoming Chief of Staff.Gallant explained that Israel had used the 2008 Gaza war as a training opportunity to test new weapons systems, describing Gaza as an "ideal training ground" due to the absence of a strong enemy capable of inflicting heavy losses on Israeli forces. These remarks are particularly significant not only because of Gallant’s subsequent rise within the Israeli military hierarchy, but also because he commanded Operation Cast Lead, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza between December 2008 and January 2009.2. Improving New Weapons Through Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses: Israeli defense companies and the Ministry of Defense use wars to train Israeli military personnel in operating advanced technologies while simultaneously identifying the strengths and weaknesses of newly developed systems under real combat conditions in order to improve and refine them.The Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development <a href="https://www.rafael.co.il/news/rafael-makes-history-worlds-first-combat-proven-laser-interceptions-revealed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">confirmed</a> that it gained extensive operational experience in improving and deploying laser technologies during the Gaza and Lebanon wars between 2023 and 2025. In May 2025, the directorate announced that it was incorporating battlefield lessons and operational findings into the laser systems currently under development — a process similarly applied to other weapons systems developed jointly with Israeli defense companies and deployed by the Israeli military in combat operations.3. Marketing Israeli Weapons as "Battle-Tested": New Israeli military technologies have gained a prominent place at international defense exhibitions, where Israeli companies actively promote them as "battle-tested."For example, promotional materials for the "Defense Tech Expo 2026," held in February 2026, proudly stated that the exhibition would showcase "battle-tested technologies that helped shape the latest conflict," while employing marketing phrases such as "combat-proven" and "innovation under enemy fire."The exhibition also used real battlefield footage demonstrating the deployment of new technologies during the Gaza war, prompting criticism from Israeli activists who attended the exhibition to protest what they described as the continued economic exploitation of war.4. Strengthening the Global Position of Israeli Defense Companies: Israeli defense companies use wartime operations to promote their capabilities and technological innovations while emphasizing their role as key contributors to the military achievements of the Israeli armed forces.These companies also seek to strengthen their position within the global defense sector by highlighting what they portray as their superiority over international competitors in developing advanced military technologies.For instance, Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman claimed that his company was "leading the energy-weapons revolution" and that its operational laser systems were "among the most advanced of their kind globally," while stressing Rafael’s "major contribution to Israeli national security."5. Increasing Israeli Military Export Revenues: Israel continues to consolidate its position within the global arms market. It has already become the world’s eighth-largest arms exporter, recording military sales approaching $15 billion in 2024.Field testing weapons in real combat operations enhances global demand for these systems, promotes perceptions of reliability, and provides operational credibility unavailable to many competing weapons systems worldwide.Accordingly, Tel Aviv seeks to leverage wars and military operations to expand military export revenues and boost Israel’s defense-industrial economy.In 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Defense <a href="https://www.rafael.co.il/news/rafael-makes-history-worlds-first-combat-proven-laser-interceptions-revealed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">announced</a> that military exports had reached a record high for the fourth consecutive year, surpassing $14.7 billion in 2024 — an increase of 13% over 2023 and more than double the level recorded five years earlier.The ministry linked this surge in sales to what it described as the "operational achievements of the war and the proven battlefield performance of Israeli systems" since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023.The Israeli defense minister described the new export record as "a direct result of the successes of the Israeli military and defense industries against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, the Ayatollah regime in Iran, and other arenas."Similarly, Israeli Ministry of Defense Director General Amir Baram argued that the "new wartime export record reflects growing international appreciation for proven Israeli technological capabilities."6. Promoting Israel’s Leadership in Developing and Operating New Military Technologies: Israel also seeks to highlight its role as a pioneer in developing and deploying advanced military technologies as evidence of its technological sophistication and the capabilities of its defense innovation sector.To this end, Israeli officials frequently emphasize that Israel is the "first" country to develop and operationally deploy certain military technologies in actual combat environments.For example, Daniel Gold, head of the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development, <a href="https://www.rafael.co.il/news/rafael-makes-history-worlds-first-combat-proven-laser-interceptions-revealed/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">promoted</a> Israel as "the first country in the world to demonstrate large-scale operational laser interception capabilities."The Israeli military likewise claimed to have achieved the "world’s first successful battlefield interception using high-energy laser systems."Rafael Chairman Yuval Steinitz similarly declared that "Israel is the first country in the world to transform high-energy laser technology into a fully operational system and conduct actual combat interceptions."While other countries — including the United States and the United Kingdom — have conducted successful tests <a href="https://san.com/cc/israel-confirms-first-use-of-laser-weapons-in-combat/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">involving</a> laser weapons, Israeli marketing efforts highlight their deployment in large-scale combat operations, where these systems functioned as a core, cost-effective layer of air-defense architecture.7. Wars Accelerating the Development of Defense Industries: The relationship between wars and defense-industrial development is reciprocal. While military industries enhance the capabilities of armed forces and provide real-world testing grounds for advanced weapons systems, ongoing wars and security concerns also accelerate the pace of military innovation, particularly in sectors where armed forces face operational challenges or vulnerabilities.In this context, the shock of the October 7, 2023 attacks helped stimulate Israeli defense industries. The wars in Gaza and southern Lebanon, as well as operational pressures stemming from confrontations with Hamas and Hezbollah, accelerated the development of several weapons systems and military technologies.When confronted with simultaneous conflicts on multiple fronts, the Israeli military has increasingly sought rapid technological solutions to urgent operational needs. For example, although Israel’s laser-defense system was not operational at the time of the October 7 attacks despite more than a decade of research and development, the wars in Gaza and Lebanon — along with the growing threat posed by drones — significantly <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2025/05/30/israeli-army-used-laser-weapons-for-first-time-to-down-hizbullah-drones/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">accelerated</a> efforts to deploy laser-based defense systems.ConclusionIn the Middle East and the broader international community, wars are generally seen as military threats that undermine stability and economic growth — perceptions that fed into the widespread protests during the Gaza war, including inside Israel itself, calling for a ceasefire. By contrast, Israeli military and technology companies increasingly view wars as opportunities to develop and test new technologies.Treating wars as "opportunities" in this manner constitutes a threat to regional stability in itself because it may weaken political pressure to end conflicts and encourage decision-makers—at the urging of defense and technology industries—to view war as an increasingly viable option. As a result, wars might shift from being an option of last resort, pursued only after political solutions fail, into a strategic choice driven by economic considerations.Although Israel’s use of wars in this way reflects a recurring pattern, recent years have also provided other examples of war becoming an "opportunity." Ukraine, for instance, despite facing severe threats from the Russian war and losing portions of its territory, has simultaneously sought to transform the conflict into an opportunity to expand its defense industry and position itself as an emerging player in the global arms market by promoting weapons systems tested operationally against Russian forces.

How Israel Uses War to Market Its Weapons Systems?