At a Globes TECH IL panel on Israeli defense tech, senior industry figures argued that Israel is adapting quickly to new battlefield threats, especially fiber-optic drones in Lebanon. The discussion, moderated by Globes tech writer Asaf Gilad, featured retired Brig. Gen. Shimon Tzanchipar, Next Vision chairman and founder Chen Golan, Kela founder and president Hamutal Meridor, and Ondas Israel chief engineer Dr. Yehudit Hockerman-Frommer.
Tzanchipar, a co-founder and partner at Ace Capital Partners, said Israel’s recent military achievements were impressive and had even surprised Israeli observers. He stressed that such capabilities are built over years, adding that “the other side” also has time to learn and prepare. Still, he said the lesson is not that the threat is over, but that “this is never a one-and-done event,” and Israel must keep building capabilities for the next campaign. He said deterrence matters, and that “the other side understands the strength of the State of Israel.”
On fiber-optic drones, Tzanchipar rejected the claim that Israel is unprepared, saying the systems are relatively new because they allow communication without radio waves. He said the response must include early detection, interception, laser or other energy weapons, and protection for troops. Hockerman-Frommer described a multi-layered solution using different sensors and neutralization methods, and said GPS jamming and cyber countermeasures are already less effective. She said non-kinetic neutralization that allows “room for error” is being developed.
Meridor said the traditional defense giants are strong in some areas but are less suited to very fast-moving threats, while Golan argued that small, agile companies can mature products in a year to 18 months, unlike larger projects that may take four years. Asked about a possible Israeli “Anduril,” Meridor said it is a compliment but “you can’t build another Anduril in the world.”
On the market outlook, Golan said Next Vision went public at a relatively small valuation of 400 million shekels and may consider a Nasdaq listing if it needs money for the right acquisition. Tzanchipar said Israeli investors will likely warm to defense tech as more success stories emerge, and that U.S. funds are already investing heavily in the sector. Looking ahead, he, Meridor, Golan and Hockerman-Frommer all said defense spending and technological innovation are likely to keep rising, with Meridor warning that Iran is preparing for the next round and that Israel and its Western allies must cooperate more closely.
