Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling have develop into synonymous with nationwide success. Rafael, Israel Aerospace Industries and Elbit Programs have received nice reward, and with main justification, however a basic key to the success of Israel’s air protection lies within the multi-layered protection system that many nations all over the world try to repeat. This system has been led by the Ministry of Protection’s Directorate of Protection Analysis & Improvement (DDR&D) (MAFAT), which has been managing the event and manufacturing of Israel’s air protection since 1991.
The director of the Israel Missile Protection Group (IMDO) since 2016 is Moshe Patel, one of many veteran professionals within the subject, who leads quite a few crucial nationwide missions in his function, together with: planning, growth, and manufacturing of air protection capabilities, ongoing coordination and analysis with the US, which is a associate in Israeli applied sciences, and accountability for skyrocketing gross sales, with Worldwide Protection Cooperation Directorate of the Israel Ministry of Protection.(SIBAT) information exhibiting that about 48% of all Israeli protection exports in 2024 (totaling about $14.79 billion) had been air protection programs.
30 years on this planet of Israel’s air protection “
When there may be conflict and operational occasions, lMDO is deployed on all fronts, in all protection industries, within the core of the Air Pressure. Each occasion, profitable or not, we analyze in actual time and study for the long run,” Patel tells Globes in a particular interview. “If one thing is nice, we are going to go it on to the opposite programs. If there’s a want to enhance, we discover the options and go on our operational advice. All of our programs have skilled modifications, after we sat down with the business to look at implementation.”
The outcomes of Israeli air protection in opposition to the Iranians as a part of Iran operation had been unprecedented by any standards, although each ballistic missile strike results in severe penalties. About 86% of Iranian ballistic missiles had been intercepted by Israeli and US programs (THAAD and AEGIS), and about 99% of drones. “As a matter of truth, our expectations had been decrease than the outcomes,” admits Patel. “There are achievements right here that transcend the fundamental calls for. Concerning Arrow 3, we’re implementing the teachings realized from the operational occasions and persevering with to enhance the system.”
Moshe Patel (63), married and a father of 4, is a person who has devoted most of his life to the protection of the nation. He started his protection expertise profession as a pc engineering pupil on the Technion, graduating with honors, adopted by an MBA from Tel Aviv College. Early in his service, he got here into contact with the Individuals, as a result of his work within the Air Pressure’s software program models, the place he was concerned in F-16 avionics programs. He subsequently labored on command and management programs, and in 1996 he first reached the protection directorate as head of the system engineering and integration department of the Arrow system. He was concerned within the growth of the primary Arrow system in 2000 and held further positions within the Ministry of Protection, together with as a consultant in Washington and in his final place as a uniformed officer (colonel), he served as a technical officer till 2007. A few yr after his launch, he moved to Elbit Programs unit Elisra, the place he labored on missile protection command and management programs. In 2015, he was promoted to the place of director of the electro-optical options division for missile protection, and in 2016 he turned head of IMDO.
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“I have been within the subject for practically 30 years. After we first began engaged on the Arrow, I mentioned to myself, ‘We’re constructing a superb system that may make it clear to the enemy that we will defend in opposition to assaults.’ I assumed we had been constructing an excellent deterrent functionality, however I wasn’t certain we’d use it,” says Patel. “To see a system that I have been engaged on for 30 years and my predecessors for even longer come to fruition is fantastic. The system works as easily as deliberate.”
He gives a artistic clarification for the technological problem that the Arrow system faces – a missile hitting a missile. “Think about that an individual on the Azrieli Tower in Tel Aviv throws a pin into the air in a ballistic means, and another person is in Rabin Sq. and must hit that pin with a pin. That is the engineering state of affairs that requires inspecting, amongst different issues, the modifications within the winds, what the pin appears to be like like, and what must be carried out to launch our pin simply in time to hit the one launched from one other place.
Preparations for the hypersonic menace have already begun
As has been evident because the begin of the conflict and particularly within the operation in opposition to Iran, Israel got here ready for the missile and rocket threats. Nevertheless, the threats that Israel faces will not be probably the most extreme at this time, or within the close to future. Numerous nations on this planet, together with North Korea, possess intercontinental ballistic missiles. These missiles problem protection programs, amongst different issues, as a result of their excessive pace (Mach 5 and above), lengthy flight vary that makes early detection troublesome, and technique of deception
As well as, there may be the hypersonic menace, which is a mix of capabilities between a ballistic missile and a cruise missile. A hypersonic missile isn’t a ballistic missile, however it rises like one. The hypersonic missile additionally doesn’t attain a ballistic altitude, however enters an airspace of 30 to 70 kilometers, whereas flying at an especially excessive pace of 15-20,000 meters per second. Along with that top pace, the hypersonic missile additionally poses a problem because of the trajectory it takes, which resembles a pebble leaping on water, making it troublesome to foretell the place the menace will arrive and from the place it should dive as a way to strike.
“We at all times look just a few steps forward and attempt to be, as earlier than, ready and prepared for the following threats,” says Patel relating to these two threats. “Upgrades and enhancements have already been made to the software program and {hardware} in every of our programs. Now we have far-reaching plans that existed whatever the conflict, and we proceed to speed up them.”
Do armies at this time have the hypersonic menace in its entirety? “
Lots of people brag about it and there may be additionally discuss. The world is engaged on discovering options. At DDR&D, we’re at all times taking a look at coping with future threats. A few of our industries have begun to consider options, and I assume we are going to get into this subject
The corporate that has been growing a devoted interceptor for the hypersonic menace for a number of years is Rafael, with a single-shot system. Nevertheless, it’s at an early stage in contrast with different air protection programs being promoted by Israeli protection industries.
Among the many future developments, wherein the IMDO typically and Patel specifically kind an integral a part of the administration, the Arrow 4 and Arrow 5 programs stand out. “Arrow 4 is a system that may change Arrow 2,” Patel notes. “We’re going to convey a contemporary, modern interceptor missile, with classes realized from Arrow 3 and Arrow 2. It is going to be far more sturdy, whereas paying nice consideration to mass-producing the missile successfully. We’re in superior levels, with the Individuals. It’s an interceptor that may meet present and future threats.”
What’s the intention of Arrow 5?
“Arrow 5 isn’t a substitute for Arrow 3, however complementary. At this stage, the business is providing concepts, and we’re accompanying the method. It’s going to undoubtedly be a major leap ahead. Arrow 3 has an enormous future with its phenomenal success, there isn’t a precedent for its success charge.”
The connection with the US throws up a problem
In the summertime of 2023, the Arrow 3 system was offered to Germany, in Israel’s highest protection sale ever: $3.5 billion. Final month, Patel led a delegation to Germany that handled preparations for the supply of the programs within the coming months. IMDO can be chargeable for coordination with Finland, following the sale of the David’s Sling system for about $390 million. “The actual fact that the industries are concurrently managing to not neglect Israeli wants regardless of overseas wants is a badge of honor for every of the industries,” Patel says..
On this context, he remembers a dialog he had behind the scenes together with his German counterpart, throughout the conflict. “He instructed me, ‘Even for those who instructed me we had been going to postpone, I’d perceive. However you are able to do each.’ We’re sticking to the German plan and the Finnish plan on schedule. The contribution of the industries and their workers is superb, a few of them are within the reserves – popping out of the reserves and going to work, earlier than returning to base. The sacrifice is superb.
How did the connection between the conflict and the offers have an effect on the IMDO?
“The dimensions of the tasks and manufacturing, actually the offers signed with Germany and Finland, required us to extend our manpower. A few of our licenses from the Individuals embrace a requirement to keep away from harming Israeli applications. Subsequently, we elevated our manpower by 20%. Our work requires shut contact with industries for the aim of executing contracts, monitoring and steering, coordinating with the IDF, the Ministry of Protection, the Nationwide Safety Council, the federal government, and naturally the US, to whom I’m indebted for his or her half in growth and manufacturing.”
To what extent is the US built-in into Arrow 3?
“It really works hand in hand with us in Arrow 3. They obtain an in depth overview of what occurred in every operational occasion, they usually additionally share with us concerning the functioning of their programs. We take care of questions comparable to what occurred, and easy methods to enhance coordination between the programs. We constructed an unimaginable infrastructure that started as a loopy US demand for connectivity capabilities with our programs. From the primary day of Arrow, we created this, and the orchestra performed effectively in earlier occasions however particularly throughout the Iran operation. They’re very concerned, producing 50% of the parts.”
The fruitful cooperation between Israel and the US additionally entails a notable problem. It’s prohibited to promote a collectively produced system, for instance Arrow 3 and David’s sling, with out US approval. In distinction, US approval was not required for the sale of Rafael’s Spyder system to Romania final week (for about €2.2 billion) as it’s utterly made in Israel. Patel admits that though there may be nice openness on the US aspect to gross sales, the Ministry of Protection itself workouts nice warning.
“Our air protection programs are notably crucial for the State of Israel. Initially, there may be the Israeli course of that features the Protection Export Management Division (DECC), the protection ministry’s safety officers, and the IDF. Solely then comes the US half, whose understanding of gross sales has elevated in recent times. As well as, strain is being exerted by varied nations, which inform the US, ‘We wish it too.’ The big demand available in the market additionally results in a restrict on what number of US programs might be marketed. There may be worldwide strain and wish, and joint manufacturing of the programs with the US streamlines the method and reduces prices, a mix of fine pursuits.”
Patel defines the shut cooperation with the US as a “long-term marriage.” He says, “Proper now we’re persevering with to analyze what occurred with the Houthis, what they noticed, what might be carried out subsequent, what they should study and what they should enhance. It has develop into greater than only a skilled friendship. It’s mutual care, affect, superb relationships the place not solely can we profit from the beneficiant cash, but in addition from joint administration, joint deliberations, what to develop, what future generations will do, what is true to do. In the event that they encounter issues, then they inform us to watch out, and there may be direct funding in several instructions. However, generally they provide suggestions, after which they see our technological prowess, and after we implement it, they implement it themselves.”
What’s the scale of worldwide competitors within the subject of air protection?
“The competitors is nice, however not many nations have the ‘Fight Confirmed’ stamp. Just a few do, and when you think about the variety of our interceptions, it’s vital. With Iron Dome and Arrow, it’s loopy, and with David’s Sling too. It’s a high quality that not many have. Now we have undergone many trials, simulations, however the operational baptism of fireside – bringing a system that has been examined in battle and confirmed itself – is a very totally different world.”
Will US independence come on the expense of Israel?
Underneath the present memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US, $500 million a yr are allotted for joint air protection tasks, however that is solely till 2028. The way forward for the following MoU and its content material are nonetheless shrouded in thriller, all of the extra so within the wake of US President Donald Trump’s ambition to extend US independence and his grandiose “Golden Dome” air protection program.
Patel explains that along with the $5 billion granted Israel over a decade, there have been years throughout which the US moreover funded different tasks. In 2019, for instance, an Arrow 3 trial was carried out in Alaska, for which US funding reached $700 million. In 2021 throughout Operation Guardians of the WAll, a grant of $1 billion was acquired, and throughout the present conflict, $5.2 billion has been acquired for interceptor missiles and selling the Iron Beam laser air protection system.
“$500 million a yr is important. Once I was first at IMDO and in my place in Washington, once we would obtain a sure finances from the US administration, we’d ask for additions. It is a problematic state of affairs since you current the wants, after which Congress says to maneuver from level A to level B. In such a state of affairs, MDA (the US Missile Protection Company) needed to minimize different applications. In a state of affairs with $500 million a yr for a decade, you may plan long-term, and that’s necessary.”
Is not it regarding that there’s nonetheless no certainty from 2029? “As for 2029, it’s left to the dialogue between the nations. We must discuss it, on the decision-making stage. Initially, the federal government and the Nationwide Safety Council must decide on what and the way, and begin processes with the administration and Congress.”
Printed by Globes, Israel enterprise information – en.globes.co.il – on July 13, 2025.
© Copyright of Globes Writer Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2025.
