Defense-Tech: Israel’s Quiet Frontline of National Security

The drone patrolling the battlefield and transmitting live data. The algorithm detecting anomalies in intelligence streams. The sensor capable of identifying human presence behind walls. These are just a few real-world examples of Israel’s dynamic and fast-growing defense-tech industry—a well established yet innovative field that places cutting-edge technology at the forefront of national security, and uniquely integrates military, academia, and industry in ways rarely seen on a global scale.

A New Research Community to Bridge Academia and Defense

Israel has long been recognized as a global defense-tech leader, but maintaining that edge depends not only on military strategy—it also relies on the work of scientists, engineers, and researchers operating behind the scenes. These are the minds driving the development of systems and tools that will shape not just future wars, but the fragile peacetimes in between.

At Bar-Ilan University, a wide range of defense-related research is already underway. Now, the university has taken a major step forward by establishing a new interdisciplinary community of defense-tech researchers, with the goal of forging stronger ties between academic knowledge and real-world defense applications in Israel.

The community includes around 100 researchers from diverse disciplines such as AI, cybersecurity, engineering, quantum science, national resilience, and biotechnology.

Launch Event Brings Together Defense Leaders and Academic Experts

The Defense-Tech Research Community was officially launched at Bar-Ilan in June 2025. The event drew major figures from Israel’s defense ecosystem, including:

• Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin, former Air Force Commander and co-founder of ACE Capital Partners

• Former Minister of Science and entrepreneur Izhar Shay, founder of Next October

• Dr. Uzi Rubin, senior researcher at Bar-Ilan’s Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies

• Sima Shine, former senior official in the Mossad and senior fellow at INSS

• Israel Lupa, VP at Israel Aerospace Industries

• Dr. Nadav Cohen from MAFAT (Directorate of Defense R&D)

Addressing the audience, Norkin spoke about the evolving challenges facing air forces today:“The introduction of new technologies is changing the battlefield. It takes time to understand new systems and threats—and at the same time, we must develop the capacity to respond to them quickly. Threats today are more decentralized, as we’ve seen in Ukraine. Every air force commander watching that footage is asking: how do we protect our bases?”

Looking ahead, he added: “Laser, space, and artificial intelligence—these are the three fields that can drive the next wave of Israeli scientific growth.”

Innovation Born from Siege

The rise of Israel’s defense industry was far from inevitable. From the beginning, international restrictions forced Israel to develop technological independence. In response, research institutes and military production facilities emerged—laying the groundwork for today’s thriving ecosystem.

By 2024, Israel had reached record-high defense exports of over $14.7 billion, employing more than 100,000 people and producing hundreds of technologies adopted by militaries worldwide.

But Israel’s advantage isn’t just technological. It’s also structural. Unlike many countries where there’s a disconnect between research and real-world application, Israel’s defense ecosystem is driven by tight collaboration between its three core pillars: the military, academia, and industry. This structure allows for faster translation of ideas into operational systems.

From Circuits to Psychology: Expanding the Boundaries of Defense-Tech

Bar-Ilan University is not a defense institution—but it’s quickly becoming a hub for defense-tech research. Over the past few years, a growing network of Bar-Ilan researchers has been exploring the security implications of science and technology far beyond traditional military disciplines.

Today, dozens of security-relevant research projects are active across the university. These include:

• Development of self-reliant sensors that eliminate dependency on imported components

• AI-based signal detection algorithms using NLP and large language models—tools once exclusive to the private sector, now applied to intelligence gathering

• Smart military energy solutions, including field-adapted charging systems and renewable energy harvesting in hostile environments

• Advanced nanomaterials that block thermal detection or camouflage personnel and equipment from advanced surveillance systems

• Swarms of intelligent robots for patrolling rugged terrain under challenging conditions

But innovation at Bar-Ilan isn’t limited to hardware.
Researchers in medicine and psychology are developing treatments for post-traumatic stress among soldiers and civilians.
Education experts are designing remote learning systems for children evacuated from conflict zones.
And legal scholars are examining the ethical and legal implications of using autonomous systems in warfare.

Listening to the Heart—with Lasers

Leading this transformation is Prof. Zeev Zalevsky, Vice President for Industry Relations at Bar-Ilan. A defense-tech researcher himself, Zalevsky was part of a team that developed a laser-based system capable of detecting vital signs—such as breathing and heartbeat—through walls and at a distance.

Recently, Zalevsky founded the university’s new interdisciplinary defense-tech research community to position academia as a key player in strengthening Israel’s technological defenses.

“The Israeli defense-tech industry excels at rapidly adapting existing technologies,” Zalevsky explains.
“But if we want to lead in the next decade, we must invest in foundational research. Academia is where we ask the questions no one’s asking in the field—and imagine solutions no one else has thought of yet.”

The Road Ahead: Strengthening the Science-Security Connection

Zalevsky is now focused on deepening the relationship between Bar-Ilan researchers and the broader defense-tech sector. His vision includes facilitating collaborations between defense professionals and academic experts, establishing a research consortium focused on high-impact projects, and securing funding to help translate theoretical insights into practical solutions.

“In recent years,” he says, “defense-tech is one of the few sectors where Israel’s global position has only grown stronger. Now is the time to build on that momentum by strengthening the ties between academia, industry, and national defense.”