IDF TO GET THOUSANDS OF SUICIDE DRONES

Thu 13 March 2025:

The Israel Defence Forces are to get thousands of suicide drones, after recognising their effectiveness in the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Haaretz has reported. The announcement was made by the Defence Ministry.

First-person view (FPV) drones, originally designed for high-speed racing due to their agility, have evolved into precision-strike weapons. Their impact has been particularly evident in Ukraine, where these small, low-cost drones have been used to destroy armoured vehicles and high-value military assets worth millions.

A recent report by the British think tank the Royal United Services Institute, found that FPV drones operated by Ukrainian forces account for approximately 70 per cent of Russian equipment losses. The IDF has expanded its reliance on FPV drones in military operations across Gaza, Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, particularly since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023.

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Despite years of limited attention from the IDF and Israel’s Defence Ministry, demand for these drones has surged, prompting the latter to acquire models from companies such as Xtend, Spear UAV and Aerobotics.

According to Haaretz, the ministry called for tenders last month for 5,000 FPV drones, including variants equipped with thermal imaging for night operations.

Moreover, the Israeli financial daily Globes said that 25 Israeli companies, including Xtend, Dronix, and Tehiru, have submitted proposals. Due to international restrictions on arms sales to Israel following the Gaza war, the Defence Ministry has prioritised domestic production, requiring companies to establish local manufacturing lines.

However, the tender specifies several foreign-made components, raising potential supply chain concerns. Key parts include Taiwanese-made servo motors, Chinese-manufactured propellers (HQProp), and a communication module from Team Blacksheep, another Chinese company.

The ministry declined to comment on specific aspects of the tender but claimed that all drone procurements align with operational security requirements. It added that any further inquiries from suppliers would be reviewed by the relevant authorities.

“The technical documents for the tender and the operational requirements were developed based on the needs of the operating body and in consultation with security authorities,” said the ministry. “As the process is ongoing, we cannot respond to specific questions. Any additional supplier inquiries will be evaluated by the relevant professional authorities and addressed in accordance with standard tender procedures.”

-MEMO

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