The head of Israel’s biggest defense company says his firm is working on new technology to stop deadly explosive drones from Hezbollah that have been killing Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
Bezhalel Machlis, who leads Elbit Systems, told Reuters in an interview Tuesday that his company is actively collaborating with Israel’s defense ministry to create a rapid response to the drone problem. The solution might include what he called an “energy weapon solution,” noting that his company is “very active in energy weapons such as lasers.”
“There are other means, which are also relevant to this threat. We are heavily involved in the development of a solution (to) this challenge” of explosive drones, Machlis explained after his company announced strong first-quarter earnings and profit increases.
The Iran-supported Hezbollah has deployed these inexpensive, simple-to-build kamikaze drones against Israeli forces who have stayed in southern Lebanon following an April 16 ceasefire. These drones pose a significant challenge for air defense systems to stop and are also causing devastating damage in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Facing mounting pressure to tackle this threat, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday his intention to intensify strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon. However, he didn’t outline a specific strategy for dealing with the drones, which can bypass Israel’s advanced jamming technology.
Currently, Israel has resorted to basic methods like nets to prevent the First-Person-View drones, operated through fiber-optic cables, from striking troops.
The Israel-Hezbollah fighting represents the most lethal extension of the wider U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, where prospects for a quick resolution dimmed Tuesday after U.S. forces launched strikes in the country’s southern region.
Iran maintains that any agreement to conclude the war must include stopping Israeli attacks in Lebanon. Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining the authority to strike throughout the region to counter perceived dangers.
On Tuesday, Hezbollah announced that its forces deployed explosive drones and rockets against Israeli troops moving toward the southern Lebanese community of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, calling it retaliation for Israeli attacks on Lebanese villages.
This drone threat and the Israeli defense sector’s efforts to develop countermeasures come during a surge in Israeli military exports, with international demand for Israeli defense technology including ammunition, laser systems, electronic warfare equipment, and night-vision devices rising dramatically since the Gaza conflict began in 2023.
Machlis reported that Elbit is experiencing increased demand across Europe, the United States, and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as from the United Arab Emirates.
“We are active in this region,” Machlis commented regarding Elbit’s Middle East operations. “It is fast growing.”
