The Era of Short Campaigns is Over: The IAF's Shift in Doctrine for a War with Iran

Brig. Gen. S., outgoing head of the Equipment Directorate, summarizes his tenure in the shadow of the October 7 failure and details the lessons and changes in the IAF's technical array: pushing for munitions independence, dealing with surprise scenarios, extending operational endurance, and force-building while fighting. He also addresses the F-35 deal with Turkey and the shift in perception from short to long campaigns.

Brig. Gen. S., outgoing head of the Equipment Directorate, summarizes his tenure in the shadow of the October 7 failure and details the key lessons learned in the IAF's technical array. The first lesson is a fundamental change in the way aircraft are prepared each morning, aimed at dealing with surprise scenarios. Another central component is deepening operational endurance, developing tools to ensure functional continuity over time, including dealing with extreme environmental conditions. The most significant change, he says, is force-building while fighting – creating technological projects at an unprecedented pace and bringing complex engineering solutions under fire. Regarding spare parts and munitions, the IAF explains that despite gaps, operational continuity was not harmed, but Israel will have to move to a certain degree of munitions independence. Brig. Gen. S. also addresses the planned F-35 deal between the US and Turkey, noting that there are complex aspects and that Israel will continue to monitor developments. He emphasizes that the unique changes and adaptations the technical array performs on the platforms are the game-changers on the battlefield. The operational concept is changing: "We no longer assume the next campaigns will be short," and they are running models for long, protracted wars.