Defense Ministry works toward future of Israel's defense sector, plans for munitions independence
Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram told industry leaders that Israel aims to expand domestic production, innovation, and defense exports.
The Israeli Defense Ministry is working towards bolstering the country's defense sector, with a focus on achieving munitions independence and increasing defense exports. On Thursday, the ministry held a meeting with CEOs of leading defense-tech companies to discuss Israel's defense strategy, highlighting the importance of developing "the next surprises" and strengthening the country's technological edge in defense.
The meeting, overseen by the Defense Ministry Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, brought together CEOs from approximately 20 leading defense-tech companies. Baram emphasized the importance of advancing munitions independence, as Israel's operational capability should not be dependent on a supply chain it does not control. He stated that reaching munitions independence will only be possible through collaboration between both startups and major defense manufacturers.
During the meeting, the ministry revealed that the $330 million in estimated orders for the defense-tech sector in the previous period represents double the amount registered in the same period of 2025. This growth highlights the increasing importance of defense exports for Israel's economy.
The path to munitions independence will require the combined efforts of both startups and major manufacturers, with the government seeking to maintain a healthy balance of competition and cooperation within the industry. Israel plans to support all components of the defense-tech sector, including entrepreneurs, venture capital investors, government funding, long-term contracts, and exports.
As Israel faces pushback from European markets, Baram has been working to expand the country's defense-tech cooperation with other nations, including the United States and potential new partners like Australia and New Zealand. Experts attending a defense-tech conference in Haifa suggested that Israeli startups should focus on these markets, as they offer significant opportunities due to available budgets, demand for innovation, and the potential to bypass competition in the US procurement market.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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