AI, jets, drones: IAI chairman Boaz Levy describes future battlefield, air force - interview

IAI chairman Boaz Levy outlines a future battlefield defined by space assets, AI, autonomous systems, and seamless connectivity between military and civilian bodies. Levy details Israel's satellite capabilities, the shift toward robotics and data-driven warfare, and the need for integrated networks linking the IDF with hospitals and rescue forces.

In a Maariv podcast interview, IAI chairman Boaz Levy described a future battlefield defined by space assets, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and seamless connectivity between military and civilian bodies. Levy emphasized Israel's status as a 'space superpower,' citing the launch of three satellites during the current war — the Dror communications satellite and two Ofek reconnaissance satellites — which provided intelligence for precise strikes. He outlined a government-approved plan for a larger satellite constellation to enable continuous monitoring of areas from Iran to Turkey, with funding from IAI and the Defense Ministry. Levy predicted fewer soldiers and more robots on the battlefield, with AI analyzing vast data pools to detect changes and predict events. He argued that wars no longer have clear front lines, citing Ukraine and Israel as examples, and that civilians, hospitals, and rescue forces must operate on the same data network as the military. Addressing drone threats, Levy admitted Israel started addressing them later than ideal but said detection capabilities are now robust, with interception requiring kinetic, electronic, and laser means. He called for increased investment, warning that without it, Israel will lack the necessary answers tomorrow.