"Combat Intelligence Collection is a Force Multiplier"
The "Eitam" combat intelligence collection battalion endeavors to maintain the tranquility along the borders with Egypt and Jordan. "Sharing of information within the IDF between the surveillance, intelligence, and fire elements has improved by orders of magnitude in recent years," says the battalion commander in a special interview to Israel Defense
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 02/03/2018
Female warfighters of the "Eitam" battalion in action (Photo: Meir Azulay)
The "Eitam" combat intelligence collection battalion, operating out of Camp Hayoun, was established following the events along Route #12 in 2011. That sequence of security incidents led the IDF to identify a gap in the intelligence collection capability opposite Egypt. The battalion dominates a fence system about 500 km long along the border with Egypt and on the other side, opposite Jordan. In the last two years, the battalion has upgraded its long-range intelligence collection (surveillance) capabilities, both stationary and mobile.
"Relying on the technologies of the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps provides the IDF with a substantial force multiplier with regard to three vectors – releasing the regular forces from routine security duties for the benefit of training and preparing for war; moving the operational blanket as necessary around the national territory and providing persistent surveillance opposite a large area using limited resources," explains Lt. Col. Aviram Hadida, the commander of the 727th Battalion. "Combat intelligence collection like we have today opposite Egypt and Jordan, and in other sectors, the technology and the human capital, enable the IDF to take calculated risks with regard to routine security for the benefit of preparing for war."
Over the last two years, Lt. Col. Hadida managed to deploy and implement state-of-the-art technologies and operating methods opposite Egypt and Jordan. Some of these technologies and methods had been germinated in the 636th Intelligence Collection Battalion operating in the Judea and Samaria region. "For the benefit of intelligence collection, the Battalion employs all of the technological resources installed on the smart fences the IDF and IMOD had erected – stationary technologies and mobile resources," explains Hadida.
One notable characteristic of this battalion is its unique human capital, made up primarily of women. The Battalion has three female company commanders and Lt. Col. Hadida will be replaced soon by a female battalion commander who's currently attending the IDF Staff & Command College. The training process of the female warfighters also involves female instructors and officers. "The female warfighters in the Battalion's specialist company qualify as 'Rifleman-05', just like the other warfighters in the intelligence collection battalions," says Lt. Col. Hadida. "The way to reach that level is different, because of the gender, so the IDF developed different scales of exertion for women and men, but the final result is the same – both qualify as 'Rifleman-05'."
Unlike the mixed reconnaissance battalions of the IDF border force, in the companies of the 727th Battalion are gender-specific and based entirely on female warfighters. The reason for this is operational. The female warfighters of the specialist company go out on long intelligence collection 'ambush' missions. During this time, they remain in camouflaged positions, and no one enters or leaves the position. A mixed combat force cannot be employed for such scenarios.
The Battalion's personnel comprises about 600 compulsory service conscripts plus some 200 reservists and includes the IDF's largest company with 190 female troopers. One company provides intelligence to the Sagi Brigade, another company cooperates with the Yoav Brigade, and a third company is involved in mobile intelligence collection in various sectors. The specialist mobile intelligence collection company uses the Granite system, which includes long-range Radar and optical sensors, and performs initiated ambush operations using optical surveillance systems, and the data are conveyed to operations centers manned by female surveillance operators. Jointly, they provide a real-time status picture of the border.
"As the sector boundaries of the Battalion are located opposite countries with which we have peace agreements, our intelligence collection activity is rather complex. Admittedly, we deploy ambush details and do whatever we are allowed to do to the limit, but one should bear in mind the fact that the political sensitivity is always a part of the decision-making process," explains Lt. Col. Hadida. "It is a complex situation. In certain points along these borders, the friction intensity varies."
In this context, the IDF authorities are reluctant to publicize the cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, but such interfaces do exist between the armed forces, either because of overlapping operational needs or simply in order to prevent excessive friction. The IDF authorities are willing to admit that some form of cooperation does take place – nothing more.
Spot & Shoot on Demand
The fact that the IDF relies on mobile, long-range technological intelligence collection combined with a human response force persistent surveillance opposite large areas using a small, agile response force. "The Battalion operates according to the situation appraisal and the divisional needs. The relative advantage stems from our ability to collect intelligence at very long ranges while generating a very small signature. We operate under extremely difficult environmental conditions. In the summer, the temperatures reach fifty degrees centigrade and in the winter – minus 1-2 degrees. The entire Sagi mountain ridge is extremely cold in the winter. Our female warfighters can cope with it," says Lt. Col. Hadida.
"The female warfighters provide an opportunity, with regard to the social aspect as well as with regard to the operational aspect. Bear in mind that until recent years, women serving in the IDF did not take part in operational combat activities. From an operational point of view, female warfighters possess qualities that men do not possess. Their personal particulars rate them higher, quality-wise and as there are not too many female warfighters, the ones that we do have are assigned to specific units and selected very carefully. Every female warfighter must volunteer for the job – just like the troopers in any elite reconnaissance unit. We go to the schools, to their homes, and to the IDF recruitment center in order to recruit them. As a battalion commander, I personally go to those places.
"In routine security operations, the female warfighters dismount close to the intended deployment site, analyze the terrain, come up with a route of advance on foot and by vehicle, arrive at their intended position, set up and engage in operational activity to a very high standard. We have here the cutting edge of Israeli society.
"This is a population with a different type of patience. In combat intelligence collection, patience is a key element. You sometimes find yourself monitoring an area or an objective for two days, a week or two months. It is a more complex challenge for men. The analysis, reasoning, planning and organization capabilities (of the female warfighters) are different than those of men. The brigade commanders will not make a move without our female company commanders.
"We operate with the latest systems by various industries. As far as the force build-up aspect is concerned, there is the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps with the IDF Ground Arm HQ above it. Any change in the personnel complement or acquisition of systems is determined at the Ground Arm HQ. We have attained an almost total persistent surveillance capability from within the territory of the State of Israel. Our success percentages – objectives vs. results – are around 97%. Our 3% failures are associated with technical problems.
"Take the infiltrator problem. In 2017 we had zero infiltrators from Egypt. Why? The fence has been there for five years. The answer has to do with the technology and the methods of operation we developed in cooperation with other elements in this country, which subsequently matured into an operational process. At the end of the day, we managed to reduce the number of infiltrators to zero. We solved a national-level problem.
"The technology enables you to be more focused and effective. Along the border with Egypt, there are stretches of many kilometers with no settlements. If you look at the map, you will see that all the way from Izuz southward toward Eilat there are no settlements. It is a sector of about 140 kilometers, and if a terrorist should enter it, he will pose no immediate danger to civilians, as there are no civilians living in the vicinity of the border. In other words, if you have a stationary intelligence collection technology capable of identifying the terrorist while he is still in enemy territory and monitoring him in real time, plus immediate response forces, you will be able to handle any incident more effectively. This is a 'spot and shoot on demand' model. In this way, you can control larger areas using fewer response forces (fewer resources)."
1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
One of the questions that come to mind is where the IDF intelligence collection (surveillance) technology is heading – where is the cheese moving to? "Our objective is to introduce 'wisdom' into the intelligence collection systems to the maximum extent possible," explains Lt. Col. Hadida. "How do you filter and classify the information? Is the process performed by humans or by machines? The intelligence collection systems are starting to head in a direction of producing interpretation for the reality on the ground. The idea is to minimize human interpretations of reality and obtain from the intelligence collection systems the decision that is closest to the truth, with a minimum of different interpretations. With a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle – you must pick up the right pieces.
"If a vehicle that is traveling toward me produces certain speed, weight, and angle characteristics, you will be able to teach the system to differentiate between a human entity and a vehicle according to these characteristics. You will also be able to classify the vehicle. In fact, the system will provide you with partly-digested information that would shorten your response interval. From this point, allow your imagination to run wild. The cheese, in the intelligence collection world, is heading toward technology-based intent intelligence.
"The technological progress made in the world of intelligence collection draws the IDF nearer to a situation where persistent area surveillance (dominating an enemy territory) may be accomplished from within the sovereign territory of Israel. We are not there yet, as there are places where there is no substitute for the feet of the IDF troopers with regard to intelligence collection, but we are heading in that direction. While in the past we had to position ourselves close to the objective in order to collect information about it, today there has been an improvement with regard to the range aspect. You can accomplish it from a longer distance. Technology enables you to reach the same intelligence collection standards with less friction and with a less serious risk to the troopers.
"We develop the technologies in cooperation with the industries. The demand comes from the female operators in the field. They carry out the ambush or surveillance missions and know what's missing from their tool set. This goes up to the Ground Arm and then submitted to the industries. Through the downlink, we are provided with state-of-the-art intelligence collection measures. One of our gaps involves an autonomous system capable of synchronizing the measures of different manufacturers. This is one of the objectives. Each product is a 'closed economy,' and if we manage to produce synergy, the force multiplier provided by the intelligence collection effort will increase.
"Bear in mind that the intelligence we collect is readily accessible to anyone who needs it in the IDF. Sharing of information within the IDF between the surveillance, intelligence, and fire elements has improved by orders of magnitude in recent years. For this reason, a female surveillance operator or a female warfighter of our battalion can decide the outcome of incidents. The intelligence she collects reaches the relevant intelligence officer at the brigade within seconds, and a decision is made as to how to close a fire loop."
Photography: Meir Azulay
The "Eitam" combat intelligence collection battalion endeavors to maintain the tranquility along the borders with Egypt and Jordan. "Sharing of information within the IDF between the surveillance, intelligence, and fire elements has improved by orders of magnitude in recent years," says the battalion commander in a special interview to Israel Defense
Female warfighters of the "Eitam" battalion in action (Photo: Meir Azulay)
The "Eitam" combat intelligence collection battalion, operating out of Camp Hayoun, was established following the events along Route #12 in 2011. That sequence of security incidents led the IDF to identify a gap in the intelligence collection capability opposite Egypt. The battalion dominates a fence system about 500 km long along the border with Egypt and on the other side, opposite Jordan. In the last two years, the battalion has upgraded its long-range intelligence collection (surveillance) capabilities, both stationary and mobile.
"Relying on the technologies of the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps provides the IDF with a substantial force multiplier with regard to three vectors – releasing the regular forces from routine security duties for the benefit of training and preparing for war; moving the operational blanket as necessary around the national territory and providing persistent surveillance opposite a large area using limited resources," explains Lt. Col. Aviram Hadida, the commander of the 727th Battalion. "Combat intelligence collection like we have today opposite Egypt and Jordan, and in other sectors, the technology and the human capital, enable the IDF to take calculated risks with regard to routine security for the benefit of preparing for war."
Over the last two years, Lt. Col. Hadida managed to deploy and implement state-of-the-art technologies and operating methods opposite Egypt and Jordan. Some of these technologies and methods had been germinated in the 636th Intelligence Collection Battalion operating in the Judea and Samaria region. "For the benefit of intelligence collection, the Battalion employs all of the technological resources installed on the smart fences the IDF and IMOD had erected – stationary technologies and mobile resources," explains Hadida.
One notable characteristic of this battalion is its unique human capital, made up primarily of women. The Battalion has three female company commanders and Lt. Col. Hadida will be replaced soon by a female battalion commander who's currently attending the IDF Staff & Command College. The training process of the female warfighters also involves female instructors and officers. "The female warfighters in the Battalion's specialist company qualify as 'Rifleman-05', just like the other warfighters in the intelligence collection battalions," says Lt. Col. Hadida. "The way to reach that level is different, because of the gender, so the IDF developed different scales of exertion for women and men, but the final result is the same – both qualify as 'Rifleman-05'."
Unlike the mixed reconnaissance battalions of the IDF border force, in the companies of the 727th Battalion are gender-specific and based entirely on female warfighters. The reason for this is operational. The female warfighters of the specialist company go out on long intelligence collection 'ambush' missions. During this time, they remain in camouflaged positions, and no one enters or leaves the position. A mixed combat force cannot be employed for such scenarios.
The Battalion's personnel comprises about 600 compulsory service conscripts plus some 200 reservists and includes the IDF's largest company with 190 female troopers. One company provides intelligence to the Sagi Brigade, another company cooperates with the Yoav Brigade, and a third company is involved in mobile intelligence collection in various sectors. The specialist mobile intelligence collection company uses the Granite system, which includes long-range Radar and optical sensors, and performs initiated ambush operations using optical surveillance systems, and the data are conveyed to operations centers manned by female surveillance operators. Jointly, they provide a real-time status picture of the border.
"As the sector boundaries of the Battalion are located opposite countries with which we have peace agreements, our intelligence collection activity is rather complex. Admittedly, we deploy ambush details and do whatever we are allowed to do to the limit, but one should bear in mind the fact that the political sensitivity is always a part of the decision-making process," explains Lt. Col. Hadida. "It is a complex situation. In certain points along these borders, the friction intensity varies."
In this context, the IDF authorities are reluctant to publicize the cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, but such interfaces do exist between the armed forces, either because of overlapping operational needs or simply in order to prevent excessive friction. The IDF authorities are willing to admit that some form of cooperation does take place – nothing more.
Spot & Shoot on Demand
The fact that the IDF relies on mobile, long-range technological intelligence collection combined with a human response force persistent surveillance opposite large areas using a small, agile response force. "The Battalion operates according to the situation appraisal and the divisional needs. The relative advantage stems from our ability to collect intelligence at very long ranges while generating a very small signature. We operate under extremely difficult environmental conditions. In the summer, the temperatures reach fifty degrees centigrade and in the winter – minus 1-2 degrees. The entire Sagi mountain ridge is extremely cold in the winter. Our female warfighters can cope with it," says Lt. Col. Hadida.
"The female warfighters provide an opportunity, with regard to the social aspect as well as with regard to the operational aspect. Bear in mind that until recent years, women serving in the IDF did not take part in operational combat activities. From an operational point of view, female warfighters possess qualities that men do not possess. Their personal particulars rate them higher, quality-wise and as there are not too many female warfighters, the ones that we do have are assigned to specific units and selected very carefully. Every female warfighter must volunteer for the job – just like the troopers in any elite reconnaissance unit. We go to the schools, to their homes, and to the IDF recruitment center in order to recruit them. As a battalion commander, I personally go to those places.
"In routine security operations, the female warfighters dismount close to the intended deployment site, analyze the terrain, come up with a route of advance on foot and by vehicle, arrive at their intended position, set up and engage in operational activity to a very high standard. We have here the cutting edge of Israeli society.
"This is a population with a different type of patience. In combat intelligence collection, patience is a key element. You sometimes find yourself monitoring an area or an objective for two days, a week or two months. It is a more complex challenge for men. The analysis, reasoning, planning and organization capabilities (of the female warfighters) are different than those of men. The brigade commanders will not make a move without our female company commanders.
"We operate with the latest systems by various industries. As far as the force build-up aspect is concerned, there is the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps with the IDF Ground Arm HQ above it. Any change in the personnel complement or acquisition of systems is determined at the Ground Arm HQ. We have attained an almost total persistent surveillance capability from within the territory of the State of Israel. Our success percentages – objectives vs. results – are around 97%. Our 3% failures are associated with technical problems.
"Take the infiltrator problem. In 2017 we had zero infiltrators from Egypt. Why? The fence has been there for five years. The answer has to do with the technology and the methods of operation we developed in cooperation with other elements in this country, which subsequently matured into an operational process. At the end of the day, we managed to reduce the number of infiltrators to zero. We solved a national-level problem.
"The technology enables you to be more focused and effective. Along the border with Egypt, there are stretches of many kilometers with no settlements. If you look at the map, you will see that all the way from Izuz southward toward Eilat there are no settlements. It is a sector of about 140 kilometers, and if a terrorist should enter it, he will pose no immediate danger to civilians, as there are no civilians living in the vicinity of the border. In other words, if you have a stationary intelligence collection technology capable of identifying the terrorist while he is still in enemy territory and monitoring him in real time, plus immediate response forces, you will be able to handle any incident more effectively. This is a 'spot and shoot on demand' model. In this way, you can control larger areas using fewer response forces (fewer resources)."
1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
One of the questions that come to mind is where the IDF intelligence collection (surveillance) technology is heading – where is the cheese moving to? "Our objective is to introduce 'wisdom' into the intelligence collection systems to the maximum extent possible," explains Lt. Col. Hadida. "How do you filter and classify the information? Is the process performed by humans or by machines? The intelligence collection systems are starting to head in a direction of producing interpretation for the reality on the ground. The idea is to minimize human interpretations of reality and obtain from the intelligence collection systems the decision that is closest to the truth, with a minimum of different interpretations. With a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle – you must pick up the right pieces.
"If a vehicle that is traveling toward me produces certain speed, weight, and angle characteristics, you will be able to teach the system to differentiate between a human entity and a vehicle according to these characteristics. You will also be able to classify the vehicle. In fact, the system will provide you with partly-digested information that would shorten your response interval. From this point, allow your imagination to run wild. The cheese, in the intelligence collection world, is heading toward technology-based intent intelligence.
"The technological progress made in the world of intelligence collection draws the IDF nearer to a situation where persistent area surveillance (dominating an enemy territory) may be accomplished from within the sovereign territory of Israel. We are not there yet, as there are places where there is no substitute for the feet of the IDF troopers with regard to intelligence collection, but we are heading in that direction. While in the past we had to position ourselves close to the objective in order to collect information about it, today there has been an improvement with regard to the range aspect. You can accomplish it from a longer distance. Technology enables you to reach the same intelligence collection standards with less friction and with a less serious risk to the troopers.
"We develop the technologies in cooperation with the industries. The demand comes from the female operators in the field. They carry out the ambush or surveillance missions and know what's missing from their tool set. This goes up to the Ground Arm and then submitted to the industries. Through the downlink, we are provided with state-of-the-art intelligence collection measures. One of our gaps involves an autonomous system capable of synchronizing the measures of different manufacturers. This is one of the objectives. Each product is a 'closed economy,' and if we manage to produce synergy, the force multiplier provided by the intelligence collection effort will increase.
"Bear in mind that the intelligence we collect is readily accessible to anyone who needs it in the IDF. Sharing of information within the IDF between the surveillance, intelligence, and fire elements has improved by orders of magnitude in recent years. For this reason, a female surveillance operator or a female warfighter of our battalion can decide the outcome of incidents. The intelligence she collects reaches the relevant intelligence officer at the brigade within seconds, and a decision is made as to how to close a fire loop."
Photography: Meir Azulay
