Children may not know what their parents do, but they know they won the most important security prize

Launch of the "Ofek 19" satellite / MAFAT multimedia, Ministry of Defense

Today, senior figures from the defense industries split between those who flew to the ILA air and security exhibition in Berlin and those who stayed in Israel to make their way to Jerusalem for an event no less important, the Israel Defense Prize ceremony at the President's Residence.

This year, five prizes are being awarded, for a unique weapons system used in the campaign in Iran, for a classified operational system that improved the Mossad's intelligence-gathering capabilities, for the construction, launch and operational entry into service of the "Ofek 13" and "Ofek 19" spy satellites, for a technological development by Unit 81 in Military Intelligence, and for electronic warfare systems that preserve the Air Force's air superiority.

This year, Israel Aerospace Industries stands out with three prizes, bringing its total number of Israel Defense Prizes to 46, for the Ofek satellites and for two classified systems developed with the Mossad and Military Intelligence.

Boaz Levy, chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries / Israel Aerospace Industries

"This is the day of the people who sit in laboratories, behind computer screens and drawing boards, the people whose names cannot be mentioned and whose faces cannot be shown," Israel Aerospace Industries chairman Boaz Levy told Walla, Levy himself being a winner of the Israel Defense Prize for the Arrow 3 project, which he managed and for which he served as chief engineer.

According to him, "The Israel Defense Prize is often the only way to give them, in the small public that knows, the recognition and appreciation they deserve personally. This prize is highly regarded in the defense community. Today it is awarded to a project, and no longer as an individual prize to developers. So there is a small team from the project in the ceremony hall, and one person goes up to the stage and shakes hands with the president, the defense minister, the IDF chief of staff and the director general of the Defense Ministry.

"It may be that the operating body has already shared with him what his project did in Iran or elsewhere, but this is the truly moving moment. Many times these are projects that cannot even be discussed at home, with the wife and children. So they still do not know what dad or mom works on, but at least they know they won the most important security prize. That they worked hard and succeeded. That the state sees great value in their work."

What can be said about the winning projects?

"The Ofek project is receiving its third prize in 30 years, this time for the 13 and 19 satellites, which we launched during the war. The prize is not only for the satellites themselves, but for the upgrade the entire system underwent so that it produced excellent results during the war and upgraded the capabilities of the State of Israel in this context. There is innovative capability here that entered service on very fast timelines.

Anything about the other prizes?

"These are projects that border on the unbelievable, carried out in the best possible way. Projects born in the minds of people driven by a mission, who have been working for more than two years, soon three, day and night. In my view, this prize first and foremost reflects the fact that the state recognizes the work of these people, that decision-makers know there is someone to rely on.

"The talk about blue-and-white production is not a slogan, it shows that דווקא בתקופות מורכבות כמו היום אפשר לסמוך על התעשיות הביטחוניות במדינת ישראל. [Original Hebrew retained as source text appears corrupted here.]

"We need to continue strengthening them, not only in terms of infrastructure but also in educating the next generation of engineers, the ones who will lead the developments for which we will receive the next prizes.

"We are very proud of these prizes, and we have conveyed our thanks to all the employees. But it also places on us the responsibility to look ahead and plan today the products not for the next generation, but for the generation after that. That is what we do, that is what we will continue to do, and our goal in the end is to buy the State of Israel the security it needs and the superiority it requires."

It is nice that the state gives prizes to the defense industries, maybe it will also start paying you?

Only Israel Aerospace Industries is owed billions of shekels by the state in late payments, and Elbit and Rafael also have accumulated large debts.

"It will come. In the end, among our customers, the State of Israel is probably the most stable customer. So right now it is not paying, but we are all living in the same boat and with the same mission. Decision-makers know that we cannot continue like this indefinitely, and we are approaching that limit. We are walking a tightrope. Right now, we are truly succeeding in delivering everything we are committed to."